Frimley, UK, 2015-Apr-07
This summer will see the arrival of the first new Thameslink train into the purpose-built Three Bridges depot in Crawley, one of two new depots being constructed by Siemens to maintain the new fleet. The trains will then be handed over to the train owner Cross London Trains who will lease the trains to rail operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) ready for the start of passenger service between Bedford and Brighton, Wimbledon and Sutton in spring 2016 followed by Peterborough and Cambridge services later the same year.
The state-of-the-art Class 700 is the UK’s first second generation train and the innovative design incorporates the feedback of UK train operators, passenger focus groups, train crew, cleaners and maintainers. Developed specifically to meet the demands of the ambitious Thameslink infrastructure programme - delivering high frequency, high capacity services - they will be more reliable and more energy efficient than existing rolling stock. Their lightweight design will mean less wear and tear on the tracks, saving money in maintaining the network.
Siemens has also sought to incorporate UK suppliers wherever possible. For example, amongst other UK-manufactured items, a number of the new trains hi-tech electrical components are being manufactured in Hebburn, near Newcastle; pantographs in Somerset; cab radios in Dorset; flooring in Hertfordshire; exterior lighting in the West Midlands; train protection and warning systems in Cheshire, and CCTV in Tyne and Wear.
In total, around 8,000 UK jobs are being created through the £6.5bn Government-sponsored Thameslink Programme, including up to 2,000 in support of the new trains, across the UK supply chain.
The trains have a rigorous testing schedule. Early last year the first Class 700 was put to the test in a special climate chamber, measuring its ability to withstand the effects of extreme ambient temperatures, solar gain, ice, snow and wind, thus ensuring the trains are up to the challenge of carrying commuters in and out of London, whatever the weather. The units have additionally already undergone a year of intensive testing at Siemens’ unique test track facility - the site of a former RAF base - where the trains accumulate their fault free mileage prior to introduction onto the busy UK rail network.
Key figures relating to the Class 700 manufacture include:
- 1,140 – the number of carriages being provided by Siemens for Thameslink
- £50m – the amount of money spent by Siemens developing the new trains
- Over 200 – number of Class 700 body shells manufactured to date
- Six – number of trains completed to date
- +40C / -25C – the range of temperature at which the Class 700 has been tested
- 8,000 – number of jobs created through the Thameslink infrastructure programme
- Up to 2,000 – number of jobs created in the rail supply chain in component manufacturing, assembly, construction of new depots and subsequent train maintenance
- 100 – miles per hour, the speed at which the new train is being tested
- Two – new depots being manufactured to maintain the new trains
- 80% - the increase in peak seat numbers across central London (between Blackfriars and St Pancras) as a result of the improvements
Commenting on manufacturing progress, Steve Scrimshaw, Managing Director of Siemens Rail Systems in the UK, said:
“The manufacture of the state of the art Class 700 is fully ‘on track’. Six trains have already been completed, and over 200 body shells built so far. I’m excited that the first train will arrive into the newly constructed Three Bridges depot in a matter of months. The fact that we have made such quick progress is testament to our commitment to delivering this strategically important project.
“Many of the components for these trains are being manufactured at various sites around the UK, from Somerset to Tyneside, providing a huge boost to the UK rail industry. With several other major infrastructure projects in the pipeline, it is clear that the UK has some considerable rail manufacturing muscle and expertise to flex. As a result, we’ve recently hosted two supplier days, identifying further opportunities for UK companies to grow their rail expertise and compete on a global scale.”
Andy Pitt, Executive Chairman of Cross London Trains (owners of the new Class 700 units) added:
“As the owner of these assets we have an important long term interest in their manufacture and development. I’m delighted with the progress on the Class 700 manufacture and the testing programme to date and I am really looking forward to seeing these trains in passenger service for Thameslink commuters.”
Chief Executive Officer of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) Charles Horton said:
“These new Thameslink trains we’ll be bringing into service next year are going to transform journeys for our passengers, creating much-needed capacity on our busy commuter routes with around 80% more seats across central London by 2019. This, with other exciting improvements we are delivering, will add 10,000 more seats on services into London.
“The trains will connect many new communities into the cross-London Thameslink route creating fast, convenient direct services across the capital without the need to take the Tube. Furthermore, these trains are cutting edge, with state of the art passenger information systems, excellent features for people with disabilities and – critically – high levels of reliability so that we can give our passengers a dependable punctual service.”
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Further information on Siemens’ role in the Thameslink Programme is available at: www.siemens.co.uk/thameslink
For further information on the Thameslink Programme, please see www.ThameslinkProgramme.co.uk
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Media contacts
Emma Whitaker
Tel: 079212 46942
Email: emma.whitaker@siemens.com
Silke Thomson-Pottebohm
Tel: 07808 822780
Email: silke.thomson-pottebohm@siemens.com
About Siemens
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of combined cycle turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal year 2014, which ended on September 30, 2014, Siemens generated revenue from continuing operations of €71.9 billion and net income of €5.5 billion. At the end of September 2014, the company had around 357,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
About the Thameslink Programme
The government-sponsored £6.5bn Thameslink Programme will transform north-south travel through London. When complete in 2018 it will give passengers:
- New spacious trains running every 2 to 3 minutes through central London in the peak
- Improved connections and better options to more destinations on an expanded Thameslink network including Cambridge and Peterborough
- Robust new track and signalling systems offer more reliable journeys
- A completely rebuilt London Bridge station with more space and great facilities
Find out more at www.ThameslinkProgramme.co.uk
Follow @TLProgramme
About Cross London Trains (XLT)
Cross London Trains is a consortium comprising Siemens Project Ventures GmbH, Innisfree Limited and 3i Infrastructure plc. XLT is procuring and financing the new train fleet and leasing it to the operator of the Thameslink franchise.
About Govia Thameslink Railway
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) began running Thameslink (Bedford to Brighton, Sutton and Wimbledon) and Great Northern (London to Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn) rail services on 14 September 2014. A small number of services and stations previously operated by Southeastern transferred to GTR in December 2014 and in July 2015 the Southern and Gatwick Express routes will be incorporated into the franchise. GTR will then be the largest rail franchise in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue and staff: GTR will carry about 273 million passenger journeys per year, employ around 6,500 people and generate annual passenger revenues of approximately £1.3bn. www.gtrailway.com www.thameslinkrailway.com
