The Department of Transport (DfT) has launched a Rail Industry Supply Chain forum to help improve the industry.

DfT believes the new body will boost supply chain capabilities and promote expansion for small and medium-sized enterprises working within the sector.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "Like our plans for a national high speed rail network, these new faster trains will help stimulate economic growth by improving connections between our major cities."

The forum will also be overseeing the Intercity Express Programme, the government's scheme for faster travel between cities with electrified rail. This will first operate in the south-west and Wales in 2017, expanding to the east coast a year later before reaching a full fleet in 2020.

DfT says the scheme will bring services as much as five times more reliable, as well as reducing crowding on trains - train capacity will be at 627 seats per nine-car train, 18 per cent more than the models they are replacing.