Over recent years Eye may have given readers the erroneous impression that officials hadn't a clue about rolling stock procurement.
Headlines such as 'Sell out to the Boche', 'IEP in your Dreams' and 'Lets make Pendolino Extensions Really Complicated' may have led readers to believe that the Department wasn't fit for purpose, or indeed couldn't organise a soiree in a brewery.
In fact nothing could be further from the truth, as has been revealed by DfT's inspired decision to allow Southern to exercise an existing option for 40 new Electrostar carriages from
Bombardier, and develop
proposals with the Department for a new procurement competition for 116
electric (dual voltage) new rolling stock vehicles, with an option for a
further 100.
Such a masterful and visionary approach is of course entirely unconnected with the potentially embarrassing scenario of diesel trains running under newly electrified lines in the North West.
Eye is sorry for any confusion that previous coverage may have caused and looks forward to welcoming the expected announcement that the £1.4bn Thameslink fleet order will now be transferred to Bombardier. (Is this right!?! Ed)
Travel to & from Gibraltar
4 years ago