RAIL passengers may have to put up with the ageing intercity trains running between Exeter and London for many more years the Transport Secretary has admitted.

Lord Adonis said a £7.5bn project to replace the 35-year-old locomotives with express trains could be ditched in favour of simply extending the life of the existing fleet.

The 30-year intercity express procurement programme was last week thrown into doubt after Lord Adonis announced that he has ordered an assessment of the scheme.

Sir Andrew Foster, former controller of the Audit Commission, will now look at the credibility and the value for money of any alternatives to the Super Express Trains.