All aboard the café express

An old Pacer train could be transformed into a community space, a café or even a new village hall after Andrew Jones, the Rail Minister, announced that a call for ideas will be launched on how the Pacer could be renovated to continue to serve communities.

After more than three decades of service, Pacers are being phased out alongside the introduction of a fleet of entirely new and refurbished trains across the northern network, delivering more modern and frequent services with extra seats for passengers in the north.

This summer, rail industry partners will launch a competition offering community groups the opportunity to put forward their plans to convert a Pacer into a new public space.

The Pacer will be donated by the rolling stock company Porterbrook.

(Published by the Department for Transport: 28 May 2019)