A Year to the Day After 2.5 Billion € Order was Signed in Great Britain
24 April 2002 09:24
The British railway operator Stagecoach Group, the leasing company Angel Trains and the Siemens Transportation Systems (TS) Group today have publicly introduced the first Desiro UK at the Siemens test center for rail-based transportation systems in Wegberg-Wildenrath. The vehicles are to run on the network of South West Trains, a Stagecoach Group affiliate, southwest of London. The roll-out took place one year to the day after the contract was signed. TS will deliver 1200 units of the modular regio-n-al trainset concept Desiro to Great Britain. Worth a total of approximately € 2.5 billion (option included), it is the biggest order in TS history so far.
The Desiro train rolled out today is the first of 132 trains of the Class 450 which South West Trains will operate in mass transit in future. The Class 450 series will replace the over 30 year-old Mark I‚ the so-called "slam-door" fleet. The first Desiro UK will be put to service by the end of this year. It will bring significant benefits to the travelling public including: air conditioning, audio and visual passenger information displays and dedicated facilities for disabled passengers.
Andrew Haines, managing director of South West Trains, said: 'I am really excited to see the first new Desiro UK train on the test track. The trains will not only replace our slam door fleet but eventually, in conjunction with lengthening platforms to introduce 10 car-trains, will bring vital extra seats for our passengers. This is the country’s biggest train order and we will be using it as a foundation stone for the investment and improvements contained in our 20-year-franchise which is currently being negotiated with the Strategic Rail Authority'.
A slam-door train containing date recording equipment took readings from across the south-ern railway. This train was shipped to Germany to replicate the exact conditions of the UK network on Siemens’ test track. Every detail has been considered even down to recreating British icy weather conditions by using blocks of dry ice to freeze the conductor rail down to minus 14 degrees centigrade. Pieces of fibreglass resin have also been placed on the tracks to replicate icy conditions and the perennial problems caused by leaves on the line. The trains will undergo extensive tests at Wildenrath and complete much of the required Safety Case testing before coming to the UK.
Siemens TS will offer a 24-hour service as part of the 20-year service and maintenance contract for the new vehicle fleet. Once again the modular design of the vehicles will enable maintenance times to be reduced and train availability to be increased as major components can be 'swapped out' and repaired off-line.
During the event at the test centrer, Hans M. Schabert, vice president of Siemens Transportation Systems, said: 'The opportunities afforded by the privatised UK railways are significant and Siemens is committed to continue to invest and become a major player in this market. We see the South West Trains contract and our modular Desiro concept as a blue-print for future business both in the UK and across the world.'
Kevin Tutton, managing director of Siemens Transportation Systems, added: 'When we designed Desiro UK we looked at providing the train operator with a "total solution". This package includes not only the vehicle but also a long-term commitment to deliver a world class and reliable service from day one. Today marks a significant milestone on the road to delivering a better service to South West Trains‘ commuters.'
Haydn Abbott, managing director of Angel Trains, said: 'We are delighted with the way in which our partnership with Siemens Transportation Systems and South West Trains has developed. We are maintaining our record of on-time delivery and are confident that the new trains will offer substantial benefits for South West Trains‘ travelling public in terms of safety, comfort and reliability.'
For more information on this company:
Siemens Transportation Systems - Signalling and Control Systems
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