A troubled government programme to purchase long-distance express trains has suffered two new blows after one bidder failed to comply with the tender requirements and the other made a last-minute move to include new partners.

The Department for Transport is seeking to buy between 500 and 2,000 new rail carriages under the InterCity Express programme and has asked suppliers to provide three separate designs – for diesel, electric, and combined diesel and electric versions. Potential suppliers have been concerned about the risks involved because the trains would be untested designs.