A fleet of new trains won't be in service until March - but LTS is being given two complimentary trains to compensate for the delay.

The new fleet, costing £130 million, was due to have been in service in early November but modifications were needed before the trains could get the green light from Railtrack.

LTS Rail today confirmed the trains, built by German firm Adtranz, have now passed a major signalling test, but still had some reliability tests to complete.

After this the four-car trains will then be officially handed over to their new owner, LTS.

A spokesman for LTS said: "The latest estimate is that will be in March, but it all depends on the tests. There were initially only going to be 44 trains but this has gone up to 46."

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