Crossrail confirms shortlist for rolling stock and depot facilities

Crossrail has confirmed the shortlist for new rolling stock and depot facilities. The invitation to tender will be issued in late 2011 with contract award in late 2013.

The following organisations will be invited to tender:

• Alstom Transport;
• Bombardier Transportation (UK) Ltd.;
• Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA;
• Hitachi Rail Europe Limited; and
• Siemens plc

To deliver Crossrail services to the 37 stations along the route, around 60 new trains will be required, bringing an additional 1.5 million people within a 45 minute commute of London’s key business and leisure districts. Crossrail will boost London’s rail capacity by ten per cent and deliver new journey opportunities and faster journey times.

Each train will be around 200 metres in length and able to carry up to 1,500 passengers. It is envisaged that the contract for new Crossrail rolling stock and depot facilities will be let in late 2013.

Rob Holden, Crossrail Chief Executive said: “The rolling stock that will deliver Crossrail services will be intensively used with up to 24 trains per hour between Paddington and Whitechapel. The new trains need to be high capacity to meet the needs of passengers joining and alighting in the central section while also accommodating those travelling from further afield.

“We were very encouraged by the strong interest from potential rolling stock suppliers. Work continues to finalise our detailed requirements for the new trains and we expect that shortlisted companies will be invited to submit bids in late 2011 with a view to awarding a contract in late 2013.”

To ensure value for money, Crossrail’s intention is that the new trains are based upon technology already developed by the worldwide rolling stock market for deployment on other railways. A revolutionary new train design is not required.

The capital cost of new Crossrail rolling stock and depot facilities is in the region of £1bn. It is envisaged that new Crossrail rolling stock and depot facilities will be funded by private finance. Arrangement of finance will be required as part of supplier bids. The costs associated with the rolling stock and depot contract are planned to form part of the future cost of operation of Crossrail services.

The intention is for the operation of Crossrail services to be let as a concession by TfL London Rail, similar to the concession let by Transport for London for the London Overground.