Thameslink train order confirmed

Siemens has confirmed a £1.6 billion order with the British government for 1,140 Thameslink Desiro City carriages.

The announcement follows two years of uncertainty for Siemens who have been waiting since 2011 to sign off the order with the DfT.

The deal has received significant criticism as Siemens was picked ahead of Bombardier, threatening the future of the manufacturer’s site in Derby.

In a statement released today, Siemens has argued that Britain won’t miss out, confirming that many of the components for the new trains will be manufactured in the UK.

The trains will be introduced into service from early 2016 with the full 24 trains per hour service coming into effect at the end of 2018.

Steve Scrimshaw, UK managing director at Siemens Rail Systems, said: “The finalisation of the Thameslink contract reaffirms Siemens’ commitment to ongoing development and continued innovation in the UK rail industry.

“The introduction of the new Desiro City will offer a much improved passenger travel experience and a step change in capacity and reliability.

“It’s a technologically advanced train that has been designed with UK travellers in mind, incorporating proven technology and using the expertise, skills and feedback of highly experienced UK operators, train crew, cleaners and maintenance staff at every stage of the process.”

The new fleet will be maintained at two specially-built depots at Three Bridges (Crawley) and Hornsey (London Borough of Haringey).

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “This contract is a boost for UK Plc, delivering jobs and injecting crucial investment into the rail industry.

“It will also vastly improve train travel into the capital providing fast, frequent services carrying more passengers than ever before.

“This is just one of many rolling stock orders in the pipeline which is both great news for other suppliers and the wider economy.”