Bombardier Transportation wins UK rolling stock contract

Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation has won a contract for new rolling stock from Southern Railway, which provides services in London and the south east of England. A Spares Supply Agreement has also been signed which will allow Bombardier to support the new trains when they enter service. The contracts have a total value of approximately GBP 180 million GBP (206 million euro, $274 million US).

The new cars will be designed and manufactured at Bombardier’s Derby facility. The vehicles will initially be used on the Thameslink route and in the longer term will be cascaded onto other routes. The rolling stock contract includes an option for 140 additional vehicles which, if exercised, would bring the total number of vehicles ordered to 256 and the total value of the order to approximately GBP 385 million GBP (441 million euro, $585 million US).

Bombardier will supply Southern with the latest version of the BOMBARDIER ELECTROSTAR family of electrical multiple units, capable of 110 mph operation. The ELECTROSTAR has a well proven track record for reliability and environmental performance and is in daily passenger service with other UK train operators, including c2c, Southeastern, London Overground, and Stansted Express. The Gautrain railway in Johannesburg, South Africa, also operates ELECTROSTAR trains.

Over 800 Bombardier trains serve London every day, supported by 700 employees on 12 sites. This is the latest in a series of contract wins and successful projects for the company in London. On the Underground, Bombardier delivered the Victoria Line upgrade project on time and under budget, and is in the process of delivering upgraded trains for the sub-surface lines. Bombardier has also delivered all the new rolling stock for the London Overground service, and provides a maintenance service for those trains at Transport for London’s New Cross Gate depot. During the London 2012 Olympics, Bombardier maintenance teams and support functions worked around the clock to deliver increased reliability and ensure that Bombardier trains on nine key routes serving London were able to meet the unprecedented demand from the record number of passengers travelling on the network.