Tognum subsidiary MTU has been awarded a 200 million euro contract to supply 250 700kW diesel powerpacks for Britain’s Intercity Express Programme (IEP).
The contract, which was formally announced at InnoTrans yesterday (September 19), also includes 27.5-year servicing agreement for the powerpacks, which will be tailored to the 12V 1600 R8oL engines in the new Hitachi Super Express Trains.
In July, the British Government announced that it had signed a £4.6 billion contract with Hitachi-led consortium Agility Trains for 596 new IEP carriages to replace the ageing fleet of Intercity trains.
Hitachi Rail Europe will supply and maintain the entire fleet of 92 trains, which will eventually run on the East Coast Main Line and the Great Western Main Line.
The new rolling stock will consist of a mix of electric and bi-mode trains, which will enable them to run on both electrified and non-electrified routes. All trains will be fitted with at least one 700kW MTU Powerpack with Series 1600 12-cylinder engine, providing self-rescue capability and hotel power for the electric trains.
The design teams of Hitachi and MTU will develop further the winning rail power pack bid design interface and control requirements over the coming weeks.
Alistair Dormer, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Hitachi Rail Europe said: “Hitachi has gone to great lengths to pick a highly reliable, energy-efficient engine for the Super Express train. We are confident, that with MTU’s 700kW Series 1600 engine, we can fulfill our demanding contractual commitments with regards to reliability, quality and performance.”
Whilst accepting that the best diesel engines are undoubtedy made by MTU in Germany, it is going to be interesting to see, whether any British companies will actually be included in Hitachi’s supply chain (although Tognum AG is part British-owned, with Rolls Royce having a 50% stake). If it transpires that the majority of components are going to come from foreign companies, then the promises of a local supply chain, with thousands of extra jobs, will have been empty
Bresm, Europe is not foreign, we have a tied economic market. The question is do we have a skilled workforce bringing wealth back to the UK, to fill the jobs in the European and Japanese supply chains, and entrepreneurs to break into niche markets, “Inspire the next” is Hitachi Rail Europe’s motto, Not, as you say, empty words.That’s probably why they were awarded the contract.
I agree that, apart from Bombardier at Derby, our skilled workforce in the field of trainbuilding is sadly lacking when compared to Europe. Also, once their factory is up and running, Hitachi will indeed have to acquire certain specialised components from various suppliers in Japan and Europe. However, I recall Alistair Dormer and company organising an Open House in County Durham at which, we were told, quite a few British companies attended with a view to doing business with Hitachi. Although, those companies were never identified, I only hope that they eventually do form part of the “local supply chain” that was envisaged by Government ministers in their promise to increase UK manufacturing.