Siemens selected as preferred bidder for Thameslink rolling stock

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Siemens and Cross London Trains (XLT) (a consortium consisting of finance partners Siemens Project Ventures GmbH, lnnisfree Limited and 3i Infrastructure plc), have been selected as preferred bidder for the UK Government’s Thameslink Rolling Stock Procurement Programme (TRSP), led by the Department for Transport.

Steve Scrimshaw, managing director for Siemens’ rolling stock business in the UK, said:

“We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Procurement Programme and we look forward to working with the Department for Transport to bring the programme to successful fruition.

“Siemens has participated in a rigorous tender process for over two years. Our selection as preferred bidder is a significant achievement not only for the rolling stock teams both in the UK and Germany but for Siemens overall.

“The announcement today is a credit to the hard work and dedication of those involved.”

The Siemens-led venture was selected against strict evaluation criteria with focus on deliverability, affordability and value for money.

The Thameslink Rolling Stock Programme covers the delivery, maintenance and financing of around 1,200 vehicles and the construction and financing of two depots.

Scrimshaw continues: “Siemens proposals provide a highly reliable and deliverable rolling stock solution that achieves ‘best in class’ service and environmental performance on high density routes whilst minimising whole life, whole railway costs.

“The new and highly innovative Desiro City Train, designed specifically for the UK commuter market, will deliver significantly better reliability and energy efficiency, as well as vastly improved passenger access and comfort.

“We believe that the Desiro City train will transform the travelling experience of thousands of commuters in the UK. We are very pleased to have the chance to do so.”

Siemens envisages that as a direct result of the Thameslink Rolling Stock procurement project it will create up to 2,000 new jobs.

Up to 600 highly skilled roles involved in the manufacture of train components will be created, including up to 300 at a Siemens’ factory in Hebburn, South Tyneside.

The remainder will be created within Siemens supply chain across the UK.

These new jobs have the potential not only to leave a lasting and sustainable skills base in the UK supply chain, but should also assist in creating a critical mass to allow such businesses to compete on the world stage for projects of a similar nature.

The remaining positions will be created in the construction and service industry involved in building the two new train maintenance depots and the ongoing maintenance of the fleet.

A dedicated Siemens team will now work closely with funders and the Department for Transport for several months to reach financial closure and conclusion of the multi billion pound contract, which will be the largest order in the commuter and regional market ever awarded to Siemens plc and the first for the Desiro City Platform.

9 COMMENTS

  1. What a joke. They are hideous. AndI bet they are slow too. Compare these to the trains in Japan etc, the whole world is laughing at our poor technology.

    We are being left behind, and becoming a 3rd world country. Japan has modern sleek trains that go 200+ miles an hour. They’ve had them for years….  yet here the UK is, in 2011, getting these ugly 1970s style, slow monstrosities.

    Can’t wait to emmigrate out of this decaying cest pit

    • Paul,

      Whilst I agree that the UK politics, politicians and PC society are of ‘cess pit’ or even 3rd world standards, I think you’re a little off the mark if you think Japan rail products are the Dog’s B*ll*cks…   The products of Taiwan Shinkansen are second rate, MHI outsourced the Dubai metro to Alcatel (now Thales) except for the Kinky Shario people movers… …and look at the ride quality of SouthEastern’s Toshiba Javelin’s…

      European rail engineering is still to be reckoned with… …and European companies are ethical to do business with…

  2. The new Desiro trains (i.e. bodyshells and bogies) will undoubtedly be built at Siemens’ factory at Uerdingen-Krefeld in Germany, although they have promised that the transmission equipment will be manufactured at their plant on Tyneside. However, unless they can guarantee that all other components will be outsourced entirely from British companies, I cannot see how 2,000 new jobs will be created within the UK.

  3. 2000 jobs will be created, however at least 5000 will disapear when Bombardier will stop making any trains in UK. Companies like BTRS, Datum, Cromwell etc. will get rid of people soon…..Thanks a lot to Ministry of Transport UK……..

  4. Absolutely unbelievable. I realise that under EU rules we have to be seen to run a fair competition but I would ask how many French trains or trams have been bought from outside France …Very Few. Surprisingly the French have a very strong Railway manufacturing industry! I wonder why??
    This seems completely at odds with the declared intention of the coalition to grow manufacturing in the UK. The jobs which are being trumpeted as being created by this are mainly depot construction and maintenance staff and these would have been created whoever won the bid. The main manufacturing work is the prize here and we have lost this and probably the last rail vehicle plant in the UK.  WELL DONE DFT!!!

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