Southern awards Bombardier train building contract

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On Wednesday 28 December 2011, Southern announced a contract with train manufacturer Bombardier for 130 new Electrostar carriages to provide more capacity on its busy network.

The £188.8 million order will augment Southern’s existing fleet of Electrostars and allow Southern to lengthen trains on some of its busiest Metro routes into Victoria, including routes via Gipsy Hill, Norbury and Hackbridge at the end of 2013 .

The new trains will be manufactured in the UK with production starting in the latter half of 2012.

The new 26 5-car sets trains will be stand-alone Class 377s in 5-car formation with 2+2 seating and will be running as 13 new 10-car trains although they will be compatible with Southern’s existing fleet of 377s.

Southern opened the competition to build the new trains in September, when ‘it became apparent that the trains Southern had leased to First Capital Connect for the Thameslink programme would not be returned in time for Southern to fulfil its capacity commitments’.

There will be a financial competition in the New Year to provide the capital funding for the trains.

Southern Managing Director, Chris Burchell said:

“Following a competitive tender process, we found that the Bombardier bid could meet our challenging delivery timetable, was affordable and also offered compatibility with our existing fleet.

“We are delighted that we have found a way forward that will enable us to provide vitally needed extra capacity for so many of our passengers.”

“We are delighted to be awarded this contract by Southern. This is a significant project which emphasises the performance of Bombardier’s products in the UK,” said Paul Roberts, Chief Country Representative and President of Bombardier Transportation, Services UK and Passenger Fleet Management Service Line.

“These vehicles have a proven track record for their excellent reliability and environmental performance which will now benefit many additional passengers in London and the South East.

“The new trains will be manufactured in the UK with initial production commencing in the latter half of 2012.”

4 COMMENTS

  1. Its about time Bombardier were successful in winning an order for trains used in this country, but it does not alter the shameful award of Thames Link cariages to Siemens which in value was nearly 10 times bigger. Good though this order is I do not suppose the 1400 who lost their jobs at Derby will be very pleased with this total outcome.

  2. Forgive my ignorance… 

    (1) Southern opened competition the competition to build the new trains in September when it became apparent the trains Southern had leased to FCC for the Thameslink programme would not be returned in time for Southern to fulfill its capacity commitments’

    If Bombardier were hurt so badly by the Thameslink order going to Siemens, and Southern are so worried about meeting their capacity commitments, why is manufacturing only scheduled to start in ‘the latter half’ of 2012?

    Either Bombardier are not hurting so much or Southern’s capacity commitment is not as strong as they would like people to believe (although as a regular user, I am impressed with Southern’s services).  

    …But something doesn’t add up with this here production schedule!!! 

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