Alstom gears up for UK manufacturing

This from Alstom...

Alstom today opens the biggest and most sophisticated centre for train modernisation ever in the UK. In a major boost to the rail industry in the North West of the country, this facility was officially opened by Lord Prior of Brampton – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and some of Alstom’s newest apprentices and graduates.

Of course, as any ful kno, Alstom are also hoping that the Widnes facility will give it the edge when bidding to supply new trains into the UK.

So it is good to see Alstom joining Hitachi and Bombardier in putting its money where its mouth is.

Come on Siemens, your turn next. (Unusual for the Germans to be late to a party. Ed)

First/MTR suffers from premature evacuation - Official

Good news from the Shire this morning!

The great and the good are gathering in Derby for an announcement about an order for 750 new 'Aventura' vehicles for the London and South Western franchise, worth £895m

This from First Group:

PRESS CALL: Announcement of South Western rail franchise rolling stock procurement

FirstGroup and MTR will take over the South Western rail franchise from 20 June 2017. This is an opportunity to find out more about the new rolling stock being planned for the new franchise, with new trains to be built in the UK and introduced into service from mid-2019.

Members of the reality based community will of course realise that the new franchise is due to start on the 20th August, rather than June.

No matter.

Regular readers of Eye will recognise today's announcement from this, posted back in April...

Meanwhile here is a tip for other rolling stock manufacturers without a UK footprint:

You've got to be in it, to win it!

The Worrying Case of the Global Market

Overheard at Railtex...

I must says, Holmes, it certainly makes you proud to see that so many rolling stock manufacturers see such potential in the British market that they have taken such large stands at Railtex this year. One can only hope that many are thinking of building their new trains here in the UK?

Indeed so, Watson, and I noticed the enthusiastic manner in which you attacked the buffet on the Stadler stand.

Speaking of which, Holmes, I could not but observe the cordiality with which the Swiss welcomed you.  Do you have some connection with their agent?

No, Watson, while I am not averse to a bottle of Mr Wilson’s Crémant, the connection goes back much further.  You will not need to be reminded that the Reichenbach Falls are also in Switzerland.

Ah, yes indeed, Holmes.

Now to business Watson! You will have noted the significance of Derby based Bombardier’s contribution to Railtex,  especially as they are rumoured to have won the order to build new trains for the London and South Western franchise?

But Holmes, I don’t think I have seen a Bombardier stand here today or heard any mention of train manufacturing in Derby.

That, Watson, is the significance.  

Eye salutes Jeremy Corbyn!

The Labour Party leader visited Wabtec in Doncaster yesterday.

Wabtec in the UK, as any ful kno, is one of the key players in rolling stock re-engineering and refurbishment.

More importantly it takes very seriously growing skills; employing 30 graduate trainees and over 100 apprentices.

With the DfT keen to off-shore skills by encouraging new franchises to buy fleets from overseas, rather than refurbishing perfectly serviceable trains in the UK, this is precisely where the Leader of the Opposition should be.

Eye salutes the Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP and hopes he puts government ministers on notice!

Here some pictures from the visit (some of which feature industry celeb Jodi Savage):

Eye hopes Jeremy will be citing an epistle from 'Chris W' at the next PMQs?

Greater Anglia shows off new train designs

Greater Anglia has posted images of its new Stadler and Bombardier trains.

The new 'Flirt' trains will "operate on InterCity services between Norwich, Diss, Stowmarket, Ipswich, Manningtree, Colchester, Chelmsford, Stratford and Liverpool Street".

Only one set of doors per vehicle - should make for interesting dwell times.

Mystic Wolmar on rolling stock procurement

This from Henry Hectare...

In the past Eye has been somewhat critical of a certain Mr Kipling's role in the procurement of new rolling stock.

The latest fleets for Thameslink, East Coast and Great Western were specified and procured by the DfT, often against the best advice of those who actually have to operate them, and not withstanding passenger (sorry - customer) fury about uncomfortable seating and the absence of wifi and sockets. 

No matter!

Surely this could all have been solved by simple recourse to the wise words of the World's Greatest Living Transport Correspondent?

But what do we find when we turn to an epistle from Mystic Wolmar, penned for the pages of RAIL Magazine in 2004, as Virgin Trains launched its first "tilting" Red Revolution timetable:

"It is obvious that the Voyagers or Pendolinos must not be used as the model for new rolling stock for inter-city services and let us hope the lessons from their failings are learned. The HSTs are going to need replacing, probably by the end of the decade, and the same mistake of having modern trains that are less pleasant than the ones they are replacing must not be repeated...

"The sensible option would be for the SRA – or, rather, its replacement – to commission a new design for the trains and insist that they be used on the Great Western franchise where most sets are required and for any other similar routes. Why should a franchisee design trains when they are but temporary holders of a management contract, especially given that when things go wrong, we all know who foots the bill."

Wise words indeed. If only Mr Kipling and his legions in the DfT had listened to Woemar's sage advice! (Is this right? Ed)

DfT - a lesson in being careful what you wish for

This from Ithuriel...
 
The Invitations to Tender for the new replacement franchises, sees bidders get brownie points for quality improvements. 

One good way to improve quality is to promise new trains, which generates points and, of course, points mean prizes!

But, new trains cost more money.

And the word on the tracks is that DfT is facing the prospect of all the bids for Thameslink Southern Great Northern being of such high quality that they are all unaffordable.

DfT feels Derby pain and awards new train order!

Finally some good news for Derby!

Clearly stung into action by the national campaign to save the UK's last train manufacturing plant the Department for Transfer has decided that a contract for up to 120 new vehicles will be awarded to the hard pressed Dusseldorf factory of Siemens (Is this right!?! Ed).

This from London Midland's website:

London Midland is pleased to announce today that it has selected preferred bidders for the manufacture, maintenance and financing of new rolling stock. This is intended for both London Midland and the Manchester to Scotland services operated by First TransPennine Express, which would result in significant additional capacity, making travel easier, more reliable and less crowded on some of the busiest sections of the rail network.

The preferred bidders are Siemens Plc for manufacture and maintenance of the new rolling stock, which are expected to be Desiro EMUs, and Angel Trains Limited for the necessary financing. We are now entering a period of exclusive negotiations with those companies. If those negotiations are brought to a successful conclusion, and parallel discussions with the Department for Transport confirm the business case and the necessary amendments to the London Midland franchise agreement, then a firm order is likely to be placed by early 2012.

Nice of London Midland take the heat off DfT by ordering the TPE vehicles as well. After all, what are franchises for? (Wolmar ibid)

No doubt Derby was unable to offer a suitable Electrostar product or had too much work on - what with losing the Thameslink order and all?

UPDATE: This from M'Duck...

This announcement is a little rich on the back of iDave's word's at PMQ's today:



A 'bright future' for Derby indeed!

UPDATE: This from Sir William A Stanier FRS...

Whilst applauding Railway Eye's continued support for our other Works in Derby, perhaps The Fact Compiler could advise whether Messrs Bombardier of Canada actually bid for this contract?

According to my successors, who are experts on the new twitterphone device, "You have to be in it - to win it!".

UPDATE: This from The Archer...

Sir Bill is right: You do have to be in it, to win it!

And maybe the Canuks didn't bid for the LM contract, LM after all already operate Siemens EMUs so Derby would have had little chance of success.

The real question though is whether Bombardier would have bid if they had known that LM would front a (larger) order for TPE on the back of LM's bid?

TPE don't currently operate any EMUs so Bombardier vs Siemens would have been a level playing field - perhaps that's what DfT were worried about.

• Thameslink = Siemens because of credit ratings.

• LM = Siemens because of the existing LM fleet.

• TPE = Siemens because ?

Anyone know?

UPDATE: This from a Mr Tony Miles...

TPE - because:

1) the sets will be based/maintained at the Siemens depot in Ardwick, Manchester.
2) and at the Scottish end the sets will looked after overnight by people who service other Siemens (class 380) sets and, more importantly,
3) it is thought probable that the TPE sets will eventually return to the LM franchise when more of the network in the NW is electrified and the TP franchise orders a much bigger fleet - so the 10 sets have to be compatible with the LM sets.

Does that answer the question?

UPDATE: This from Howard Wade...

What are the DfT (under the non de guerre of London Midland) going on about?

Bombardier did not bid, or, rather pulled out after pre-qualification, because of the small quantity and because a repeat order for Class 350/1 was the blindingly obvious solution - even to competitive procurment crazed civil servants.

Siemens has been the formally confirmed sole/preferred bidder for over a year.

All the stuff about European wide procurement is pure spin.

Derby wins new Royal Train order

This courtesy of the Wyvern Rail newsgroup...

I am very pleased to announce after many many months of negotiations that the Sultan of Brunei has agreed to fund our reconnection to the national network, further refurbish the line to Shottle and install a number of facilities on the site of the Peak Oil operation including undercover storage of his own Royal Train to be built locally in Derby.

Good news indeed.

Meanwhile in other date related news...

It is now 729 days since the last order for new passenger trains was placed.

Now Chinese lobby to supply trains to UK

As usual, Eye is bang on the nail!

This posted by our columnist, The Marsham Street Observer, on Wednesday the 19th January...

The place [Marsham Street] is awash with ministers, ambassadors and plenipotentiaries from France, Germany, Spain, China, and Korea all vying to lay their manufacturers plans for an HST successor before King Hammond.

This from yesterday's Sunday Times' Business Section...

China has launched a big charm offensive to win ministerial support for its plans to supply Britain with cut-price bullet trains to run on a second high-speed line.

Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese Ambassador to Britain, is understood to have met ministers to discuss the order for superfast trains

Where Eye leads, others follow!

Eurostar unveils order for new fleet

This video from Eurostar - note the absence of broom cupboards.



And here the details of the announcement:

Eurostar International, the high-speed passenger train operator between the UK and mainland Europe has today announced a £700 million investment in its fleet.

The investment includes:

• Purchasing 10 brand new 320kph trainsets, which will each carry 20% more passengers than the existing Eurostar trains to city centre destinations throughout Europe
• Commissioning Pininfarina to overhaul and redesign its current fleet of trains from 2011
• Adding wi-fi, real-time travel and destination information, interactive entertainment including video-on-demand, music and news-feeds to all trains

Why is there a train in Hyde Park Today?
Last night, Eurostar placed one of the new e320s in Kensington Gardens, by the Albert Memorial, for one day only, opposite the Royal Albert Hall next to the Albert Memorial.

Prize draws for London-Paris tickets via Twitter
To highlight today’s announcement and the e320 being in Kensington Gardens, by the Albert Memorial, everyone who uses the hashtag #neweurostartrains on Twitter today will be entered into a prize draw, for one of five pairs of return tickets from London to Paris.

Regular readers of Eye will know that today's announcement isn't without its contentious aspects!

Workington - wise words from Wolmar

So Workington is reunited, thanks to a sprightly turn of foot from Network Rail, Northern, DRS and DafT.

Whilst congratulations are due to all involved it is time for some wise words from Wolmar:

Now if all this can be done in a few days, then why can’t new stations, extra bits of track, altered junctions and the like be done far faster and more cheaply?

Indeed.

And now the precedent has been set the usual excuses for inertia will not wash.

So Eye wonders if reconnecting Workington will become a future stick with which to beat the industry or a blue print for actually getting things done?

Charge of the Light Brigade

Latest figures from Moley on how light the government is in its promise to deliver 1,300 new vehicles...

Norman Baker (Lewes, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what orders for rail carriages have been placed to date under his Department's provision for new carriages under Delivering a Sustainable Railway; when he expects the remainder of such orders to be placed; and when he expects delivery of carriages arising from such orders to (a) commence and (b) be completed.

Chris Mole (Parliamentary Under-Secretary):
543 vehicles have been ordered to date.

Discussions are continuing with train operating companies for the additional vehicles and announcements on these orders will be made in due course.

As Alfred, Lord Tennyson might have said: "Then they rode back, but not. Not the 1,300."

GMITA stitched up like a kipper

Telegrammed by Ithuriel
High class weaseling in the High Court of Parliament

John Leech (Manchester, Withington, Liberal Democrat)
Transport bosses from Manchester are meeting the Minister with responsibility for rail later this afternoon to discuss their concerns about the Government reneging on their promises on the number of railway carriages for Greater Manchester. May we have an oral statement to the House to assure hon. Members about the number of railway carriages that we are getting, and about when we will get them, so that we can start dealing with congestion on our railways in Greater Manchester?

Harriet Harman (Lord Privy Seal, House of Commons; Camberwell & Peckham, Labour) I am assured by my hon. Friend the Deputy Leader of the House, who represents a seat in Greater Manchester, that there has been no reneging on any commitments on important transport infrastructure in Manchester

The background to this is that DfT Rail told GMITA that the 182 net additional vehicles allocated to Northern in DfT Rail's HLOS had been cut to 106. But please don't go public, old chap, don't want to worry the voters!

So GMITA went public and on 9 July had a meeting with Chris Mole, a very junior transport minister.

Mole cleverly listened to the whinging Mancunians and in a move of masterly ministership offered to travel to Manchester to see the overcrowding at first hand, or foot if you are standing.

So impressed that a real, live, very juinior minister was actually going to brave the main line from hell and visit t' north the GMITA delegation went away rejoicing.

Mugs.

Meanwhile look at Harriet's super weasel, probably hand crafted by the DfT Permanent Secretary himself.

Note the reference to Important transport infrastructure.

Trains are not infrastructure.

Infrastructure is what they run on.

And the way DfT Rail's accelerated DMU procurement is, or rather isn't going, that 106 already looks distinctly optimistic...

The Fact Compiler understands that Harriet Harperson proposes making discrimination against 'Northerners' a hate crime. Perhaps we now have a test case?

Do as I say but not as I do

Today Passenger Focus published the results of its Spring 2009 Passenger Satisfaction Survey.

One of the questions the watchdog asked passengers was "How well the train company dealt with delays?".

Perhaps a question that Passenger Focus could profitably put to it's DafT paymaster, judging by this lacklustre response given in the Upper House yesterday by Lord Adonis:

Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat)
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 14 May (WA 239), when the announcement will be made on the placing of the order for the 202 new diesel train carriages.

Lord Adonis (Secretary of State, Department for Transport; Labour)
The procurement process for new diesel multiple unit vehicles is still underway and an announcement will be made later this year.

Indeed - according to DafT's own timetable the announcement on the preferred bidder should have been made in April this year.

No matter, the noble Lord now glibly assures Parliament that the announcement will be made "later this year."

Small comfort to overcrowded passengers but emblematic of the Department's sorry approach to dealing with delays, especially when they are entirely of its own making.

UPDATE: This from an anonymous reader...

You might as well add lying to the charge-sheet.

Originally DafT promised Northern that they would get 180 additional vehicles now it's down to just 106.

It's caused fury here in the North West and makes page two of tonight's Manchester Evening News.

Gordon's Chinese take-away?

So Gordon Brown is meeting the Chinese Vice Premier today.

Is this a sign of movement on the 200 new DMU vehicles?

Probably not.

In the current climate it's more likely he's seeking political asylum...

DfT fails to apologise for delays

Ministers regularly excoriate TOCs and NR for late running so how is DafTs own record at delivering to passengers?

This from a distinctly optimistic DafT press release issued on the 21st December last year:

Invitation to tender issued for 200 new diesel train carriages... Closing date for bids is 16th February and it is anticipated that an announcement on the preferred bidder will be made in April.

It is now May.

When can we expect DafT to apologise for the delay, explain the reason and hand out passenger compensation forms?

OFFICIAL: Hitachi out of Thameslink

As predicted by the Eye yesterday, Hitachi have thrown in the towel on bidding for the 1,200 new Thameslink vehicles.

This from their press release:

Hitachi Europe Rail Group today confirmed that it will not progress in bidding for the provision of new trains for the Thameslink service. By doing so, the company is able to continue its focus on current and future commitments.

Remember, you heard it here first!

Thameslink trains shocker!

The bid process for the 1,200 new Thameslink vehicles goes from strength to strength.

Or so it would appear judging by the number of keyword searches that have delivered readers to this site.

Surprisingly several contained the terms: "Hitachi+thameslink+withdrawal".

Do readers know something we don't?

Gone to the dogs?

Captain Deltic reporting that Rotem has not submitted a bid for the 200+ DMU vehicles brought forward by the Pre Budget Statement:

"With Hyundai Rotem of Korea having pulled out for the time being, the bidders, in alphabetical order, are Bombardier Transportation, CAF of Spain and CSR Nanjing Puzhen of China."

DafT is still claiming it's an open race, despite strange words from my Lord Adonis at the IEP press conference...