Getzner Werkstoffe has been selected by Hitachi to continue a supply of vibration mitigation materials for floating floors in Phase II of the UK Department for Transport’s (DfT) Intercity Express Programme (IEP), under an extended supply contract.
The DfT is investing in new high-speed trains to replace the ageing Intercity 125 fleet, as part of IEP.
The contract will see Getzner equipping all trains manufactured for the IEP with elastic bearings for floating floors until 2018.
Getzner's Japan general manager Tomoko Takekawa said: “Rail cars with vibration isolating floors are considerably quieter than conventional rail cars.”
Hitachi Rail Europe is manufacturing 122 new high-speed trains at its manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe in England, creating 730 jobs locally. These trains will be operated on the East Coast Main Line (ECML).
Getzner has been providing vibration protection for the IEP trains since 2014. This latest contract extension will bring the company's total order volume to nearly 78.000 elastic strips of the material Sylomer FR.
Takekawa added: “Experience shows travellers tend to opt for rail if in addition to short journey times and punctuality, an appropriately high level of comfort is provided.
“Our floating floors enable to meet the required noise levels, and the elastic mounting of the floor also reduces material wear and maintenance costs.”
Image: Getzner supplies elastic components of the floating floors in the rail cars. Photo: courtesy of Hitachi Rail Europe.
