Kent’s passenger trains could get de-icing tanks to prevent a repeat of last year's Big Freeze chaos, it emerged today.

Rail bosses are considering fitting trains so they can spray anti-icing fluid onto the electrified third rail during the day.

It means the network won’t have to rely on the 20 de-icing trains run at night to make Kent’s railways run on time.

Services stuck in snow could also still pick up electricity to provide light and heat for passengers when they’re stranded.

Re-fits are one of the options being discussed after MPs met bosses from the train operator and Network Rail.

It follows widespread criticism of Southeastern’s service during the cold snap before Christmas.

Services were cancelled because of snow and several trains got stuck. One journey took seven hours and left frustrated commuters trapped in a carriage overnight.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "December was a real tough time for passengers due to the winter weather.

"Going forward we're looking in investing in things that will help us improve the service.

"One example of this is fitting anti-icing units to trains. Another is installing a heated conductor rail to the network as well.

"Anything we can do to improve performance on the railway during winter weather is a good thing.

"This is just another example of how we're investing in new technology to try and improve things.

"It will help us to cover much more of the network and keep it running."

Thanet North MP Roger Gale said: "At the meeting which I chaired at the House of Commons Network Rail first of all made it perfectly plain that they weren’t proud of their performance over the winter.

"They then indicated the proposals they had to try and avoid a recurrence.

"One of those proposals was to use passenger trains as de-icing trains in addition to the fleet of purpose-built de-icing trains.

"It should make a considerable difference. Effectively the rails will be de-iced during the day and night over a much larger area, rather than just spasmodically.

"So we regard this as very good news indeed and I praise the candour with which Network Rail offered apologies and explanations.

"I’m sure Southeastern will welcome the move."