RAIL chiefs have announced details of how they intend to spend £351million improving Kent’s rail network over the next three years.

Network Rail says the investment will mean major improvements to the quality of tracks, stations and signalling in many parts of the county after years of under-spending.

But it also warned that the target for replacing all the old slam-door trains by the end of the year was likely to be missed.

Robin Gisby, southern regional director for Network Rail, said it was “touch and go” whether the old-style trains would disappear completely by the end of the year.

He said that Railtrack, Network Rail’s predecessor, and the rail operating companies had failed to appreciate that the power supply to lines would need to be upgraded for the new trains to run.

He said: “Nobody really woke up to the need to upgrade the power and the train operators should have sorted it out.

“The new trains need about 30 per cent more electricity than the old ones.”

Around 1,850 slam-door trains are being taken out of service and will be replaced by 2,000 newer models.

Network Rail believes it will have upgraded the power supplies to the track by the end of the year, allowing most of the new trains to be put into service.

Those outstanding would come in to service in January and February, said Mr Gisby.

In total, Network Rail says it will spend £113million in 2004-2005 improving rail infrastructure in Kent and Sussex.

This includes £35million replacing and up-grading track and £21million on signalling and £23million in other areas, such as improving stations.

A further £238million will be spent in the following two years.

Mr Gisby added: “The plan will build upon substantial achievements of the past 18 months.

“Train punctuality has improved significantly by nine per cent for Kent and Sussex compared to 2002-2003.”