Spanish manufacturer CAF has won a £490 million contract to build a selection of two, three and four-car electric and diesel trains for the new Northern Rail franchise.
Financed by Eversholt Rail, the new fleet will consist of 31 three-car and 12 four-car EMUs, and 25 two-car and 30 three-car DMUs – 281 vehicles in total.
All new vehicles, which are based on CAF’s Civity model, are due to be in service by December 2018, enabling the new franchise holder, Arriva, to phase out the unpopular Pacer class.
Chris Burchell, managing director of Arriva’s UK Trains Division, said: “We are delighted to partner with CAF and Eversholt Rail to meet the high specification and demanding timetable for delivery of the new rolling stock.
“I hope that today’s announcement once again makes clear our determination to deliver on our promises to passengers.”
Antonio Campo, international commercial director for Western Europe, CAF, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for CAF to consolidate its position as one of the leading manufacturers of trains within the very competitive UK market.
“CAF is delighted to be working with Arriva Rail North and Eversholt Rail Group to provide high quality, cost effective and highly reliable trains for the people throughout Northern England. These trains will provide an improved travelling experience for regular rail passengers.”
Good on CAF to build new trains in England.
Built in England! Hoorah!!!
Where does it say they will be built in England? More likely they will be assembled in Spain
Ok being manufactured and assembled in Spain. Then to be delivered to the UK by road and rail.
CAF haven’t got a factory in England, that’s why they will be built in Spain.
I think Andrew meant that the trains are being built ‘for’ England.
Well I do understand now that CAF are to build the new train in Italy. Even so if the UK does leave the EU or to stay in the EU with more new trains to be built by CAF and Siemens across Europe.
Ah right now I understand why that CAF are to build the new trains for Northern England as the new trains are to be built in Italy. Thanks for pointing that out Bresm.
Bresm confirmed that CAF stock is built in Spain, so how comes you’re now saying that Northern’s stock will be built in Italy? And the mess of an EU referendum has little to do with rolling stock imports.
I read what he said about that the new trains are going to be manufactured in Italy ok David. I don’t need you telling me any more crap ok.
Bresm never said anything about Italy. CAF don’t build trains there, you’re probably getting confused with Hitachi. What crap have I been telling you?
Fine. Can we end the discussion. Please. NOW!
And we wonder why our steel industry is in trouble.
Rolling stock tends to be built from extruded aluminium these days. Tata Steel of Scunthorpe supplies virtually all the steel we need for our rails and lineside structures though.
Yes you are right on that, I do remember reading that most new rolling stock is constructed of aluminium these days due to its strength and weight saving properties. Replace steel though for aluminium and see the demise of our aluminium industry as well. Mostly due to stupidity on government policies and procurement.
Plus CAF could also win the contract to build new trains for Merseyrail.
These are being built in Spain, not England. Some of us may be misunderstanding. CAF have no train-building facilities in the UK, and don’t intend to change that anytime soon.
I remain a little concerned over how well these units will serve their purpose – for one thing the 2-car diesels would be very much at capacity even with today’s patronage. There doesn’t appear to be enough on order for regular multiple workings – and even if I’m wrong there, the lack of corridor connections is lamentable. Northern doesn’t need to be losing any more revenue…
What about the seating? 2+2 layout can be assumed for the Northern Connect standard of service… but these units are due to replace the (3+2 layout) Class 323s out of Manchester, as well as supplement the (also 3+2 layout) Class 323s in West Yorkshire. Like for like, that’s a very considerable reduction in seating capacity; 4-car services wouldn’t fit the platforms on Glossop/Hadfield services. And in Leeds it’s potentially even worse, unless the proposed 6-car (2×3 car) services are reassuringly regular. Either way, using brand new regional express trains on short commuter routes out of Manchester and Leeds seems inappropriate – “square peg, round hole”?
The alternative is 3+2 seats on the new trains. I don’t even think Arriva could do if they wanted, and passenger feedback would be less than favourable. A mixture of seat layouts across the fleet is unlikely, as there would be too many ‘micro-fleets’ to keep to their respective routes.
Early days yet of course, and it’ll prove interesting to see CAF return to the UK rail market. I just hope the product is up to scratch, and Arriva can do a better job up here than last time round. Silently hoping there are options for additional carriages in this order, too. It’d be a shame to have so many new trains carting around if they’re too full to fit anybody on!
Let the baited breath commence. No pressure, Arriva…
Why are trains being built abroad instead of in the country which invented them?
Probably because neither Bombardier nor Hitachi decided to bid for them.