NETWORK Rail has signed a £12 million deal to lease more than 1,200 new bespoke vans and company cars.

The deal with Lloyds TSB autolease covers 900 ‘mess vans’ that have been specially adapted to help maintenance teams operate more effectively.

Network Rail hopes to award more contacts in the near future to ensure that the whole 6,500-strong fleet is replaced over a four-year rolling cycle.