Frimley, UK, 2015-Apr-17
Depot Control Room
The purpose-built Three Bridges depot in Crawley, West Sussex, will be ready to receive trains this summer for testing and training purposes. The first state-of-the-art Class 700s will be put into service by GTR and maintained from Three Bridges. The depot is fully signalled and incorporates key personnel safety features including a depot protection and emergency electrical isolation system. It has an automatic inspection facility which through laser measurement can accurately predict when key train components need to be maintained or replaced.
The construction of the second depot in Hornsey, north London, is also well underway. The first phase of the project, including seven new roads and a carriage wash machine, was handed over to GTR at the end of last month (March). Siemens is now working towards complete handover to GTR in July 2016, when the main facility building and 15 new roads will be in full use. Both depots are being constructed by main contractor VolkerFitzpatrick on behalf of Siemens.
In maintaining the new fleet of trains, the depots will support the broader £6.5bn Thameslink Programme of infrastructure works to transform north-south travel through London, reduce overcrowding and increase capacity on some of the busiest routes in the UK.
Siemens is also making significant headway with the Class 700s. The trains are currently undergoing testing at Siemens’ state-of-the-art testing facility to ensure they are ready for the UK’s busy rail network. From the middle of 2016, one Class 700 train will be delivered every week to the Three Bridges depot.
In total, around 8,000 jobs will be created through the Thameslink Programme, including up to 2,000 in support of the new trains, across the UK supply chain. A considerable number of components for the new train are being manufactured by UK suppliers throughout the UK, further emphasing the UK rail industry’s ability to compete on a global scale.
Commenting on the near completion of the two depots, Iain Smith, Programme Director of the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project at Siemens, said:
“The fact that we are now so close to the completion of Three Bridges depot, with Hornsey following closely behind, is hugely exciting.
“Three Bridges depot is of particular importance to the overall Thameslink Programme due to its role in commissioning the state-of-the-art trains. Without a working depot, we can’t fully test trains, perform maintenance or put them into service. The completion of the first depot later this year will mark a key milestone and takes us a step nearer to a transformation in service for Thameslink passengers”.
In welcoming the impending opening of the Three Bridges Depot, GTR’s Thameslink Programme Director Keith Wallace, added:
“For passengers on Brighton Mail Line services, the new depot and 700 trains will, by 2018 deliver 1,000 more seats in the morning peak, allow trains to be lengthened from 8 to 12 carriages, double the number of peak direct services between Brighton and London Bridge and provide 24 trains per hour through our central London stations. This achievement will make a real difference for both commuters and leisure travellers alike and shows the value of partnership working”.
For further information on the Thameslink Programme: www.ThameslinkProgramme.co.uk
Media contacts
Emma Whitaker
Tel: 07921 246942
Email: emma.whitaker@siemens.com
Silke Thomson-Pottebohm
Tel: 07808 822780
Email: silke.thomson-pottebohm@siemens.com
For further information, please see: www.siemens.co.uk/press
Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/siemensuknews
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 £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
- 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 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 and will employ around 6,500 people. www.gtrailway.com www.thameslinkrailway.com
About VolkerFitzpatrick
VolkerFitzpatrick is a multi-disciplinary contractor with an annual turnover of c£400 million working in the civil engineering, building, rail, waste and energy infrastructure sectors. Founded in 1921 as Fitzpatrick Contractors the company has grown organically and now employs more than 600 people. VolkerFitzpatrick’s success is based on ensuring it has a sound understanding of the client’s vision, which is then delivered on time and to budget.
VolkerFitzpatrick is part of VolkerWessels UK, a multi-disciplinary construction and civil engineering group with a turnover of circa £700 million. VolkerWessels UK employs more than 2,000 staff in six operating companies. The group is the UK arm of Dutch based VolkerWessels; one of the largest construction groups in Europe.
