Siemens’ 279-strong fleet of Desiro UK trains will reach a landmark 100 million miles in passenger service today. This is equivalent to travelling to the moon and back 2091 times or circumnavigating the globe 40162 times!
The Siemens trains travel across the UK rail network from Southampton on the south coast up to Glasgow in Scotland with the following operators: London Midland, One, Heathrow Express, First TransPennine Express and South West Trains.
Steve White, director of rolling stock service at Siemens, said:
“Achieving 100 million miles of operation is another important landmark for the Desiro UK fleet. These units have an excellent track record for on time delivery and are proving to be very popular with passengers and operators alike. They are safe, comfortable and very reliable, thanks to the support of our dedicated service team.”
A recent £164 million train order from Porterbrook for 37 x 4 car class 350 Desiro (electric) will bring the total of Siemens Desiro running in the UK to over 300.
Making up the 100 million miles:
• 5 class 360/2 (electric) - Heathrow Express / BAA: 1,034,054 miles
• 30 dual-voltage class 350 (electric) - London Midland / Angel Trains: 8,943,656
• 21 class 360 (electric) - one railway / Angel Trains: 11,273,459 miles
• 45 class 444 and 127 class 450 (electric) - South West Trains / Angel Trains: 21,621,782 and 45,445,573 miles
• 51 class 185 (diesel) - TransPennine Express / HSBC Rail: 11,698,564 miles
• 37 class 350 Desiro (electric) - London Midland / Porterbrook: on order
Ends
Notes to editors
1 Distance to the moon (centre to centre) = Approx. 239,000 miles
2 The earth has a circumference of approximately 24,900 miles.
Images and interviews available on request
Further information:
Alison Emery, head of communications
Siemens Transportation Systems
Tel: 01530 258204
E: alison.emery@siemens.com
Emma Whitaker, pr & communications officer
Siemens Transportation Systems
Tel. 01530 258111
E: emma.whitaker@siemens.com
About Siemens in the UK:
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 165 years ago. The company employs 20,387 people in the UK, including about 6,000 in the manufacturing sector. Last year’s revenues were £3.6 billion, including exports of £873 million, and it spent almost £70 million on research and development. As a leading global engineering company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key industrial sectors of energy, industry and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
As part of Siemens in the UK, Siemens Transportation Systems employs around 1000 people in the UK, providing expertise in rail systems and technology to the UK rail industry. With proven capability in rail infrastructure Siemens Transportation Systems has recently delivered a major re-signaling project in the Portsmouth areas, traction power upgrades across the UK and new telecommunications systems in London and the west of England. It is also developing the GSM-R cab radio solution for the entire UK rolling stock fleet at the Mobile Communication’s site in Poole, Dorset.
In rolling stock, Siemens provides and maintains passenger trains for First TransPennine Express, South West Trains, Heathrow Express, One Great Eastern, Northern Trains and London Midland. For more information on Siemens Transportation Systems please visit www.siemenstransportation.co.uk