Transport for London (TfL) is seeking manufacturers to supply at least 39 new electric trains to operate on its extended Overground network from 2017.
TfL has published a notice with the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) for a fleet of new four-car trains for West Anglia inner services and the electrified Barking to Gospel Oak route.
London’s transport authority said the new trains will include many of the features, such as walk-through carriages and air conditining, that are standard on the current Bombardier-built Class 378s.
The contract is expected to be announced at the beginning of 2015, with the first trains coming into passenger service from mid 2017.
TfL’s director of rail, Jonathan Fox, said: “We are inviting train manufacturers worldwide to do business with us.
“Our customers have already seen huge improvements to the existing London Overground network and we will be bringing that same expertise and those high standards to a wider group of passengers and regular London commuters.
“Ordering new trains for the Gospel Oak to Barking line and West Anglia route together, as well as including a provision to order more trains should passenger demand warrant additional capacity, ensures that we get best value for money for tax payers.”
In May 2015, TfL will take over West Anglia inner services between Liverpool Street Station, Enfield Town, Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters) and Chingford as part of the Overground network.
Thirty of the new trains will replace the current West Anglia stock, which will undergo a deep clean and rebranding. Eight more will go the newly electrified Gospel Oak to Barking route, with the remaining unit going into service on the Romford to Upminster line.
Yes London Overground are getting more Class 378 Electrostars to be built as the Gospel Oak-Barking line is soon to be electrified (25kv AC Overhead) possible next year and the London Liverpool Street-Chestnut/Broxbourne/Enfield Town/Chingford Lea Valley metro line to be taken over by London Overground next year.
I must say that Bombardier are building the best electric multiple units for Southern, London Overground and if they would build more Class 379 Electrostars for Abellio Greater Anglia.
Bombardier please build more Class 379 Electrostars for Abellio Greater Anglia because you are best Canadian train/transport manufacture in the UK.
“We are inviting train manufacturers worldwide to do business with us.”
Well you shouldn’t. Keep jobs in this country.
Hopefully these new trains will be built at Litchurch Lane. The Hitachi factory coming to the UK is good news, and I think more train companies should build factories in the UK. Hopefully the old trains will be cascaded north.
Sorry but the flipside of the Bombardier coin is how many problems there stock has had.
The Victoria Line 2009 was late into service with many problems from over heating to the sensitive door edges being useless.
The S Stock on the Sub Surface lines, again seriously delayed with way too many faults, from onboard computers that didnt work, sub standard fibre optic cabling being used by Bombardier, TFL having to stop delivery of the trains for ages until they could sort out the problems. 37 trains had to be sent back to Derby to to so many faults
The Class 172s on the Goblin line, again delayed into service after them discovering a fault that wasnt a problem at all, wholly caused by them miscalculating.
Various faults with the 377 Classes on Southern including the new 377/6s delayed and Southern refusing to accept them until faults sorted.
Also Bombardier have had been dropped by TFL to provide the new signalling system for the refurbed Sub Surface Lines due to compatabilty issues and problems with Bombardier, cost to the taxpayer so far £85 MILLION, for a system that will never be used
If you were buying a new car or household goods and had that many problems you would soon get a refund and most likely never use that maufacturer again.
Much as these should be built in the Uk to protect jobs its no excuse for bad workmanship, delays and pricing