Designs for the new Desiro City train chosen for Thameslink were started back in early 2007. Siemens’ SF7000 bogie is a complex assembly consisting of highly reliable components and subsystems[1] already used in Siemens’ bogies in both the UK and international markets. The SF7000 is a lighter weight bogie optimised to meet the performance specification and functionality of the UK rail network and the requirements of the Thameslink route. The SF7000 will now start testing at both the Graz plant and at Siemens unique Wildenrath test centre in Germany, where it will run on dedicated tracks night and day accumulating one million miles of operation before passenger services commence.
The Graz facility is the world's biggest research, development and production centre for bogies. The factory produced the highly reliable Siemens Desiro UK bogies which were designed, manufactured and tested within two years, incorporating many proven features of comparable bogie applications from the international market. Popular Desiro UK trains now operate widely across the United Kingdom and the fleet’s bogies have clocked up over two billion miles of operational service.
Steve Scrimshaw, managing director of Siemens Rail Systems in the UK and North West Europe, said: “This is an important landmark for the Desiro City train and the Thameslink project. The SF7000 bogie is an evolution of the current Desiro UK bogie used on over 350 Desiro UK trains. Siemens committed to manufacturing the first bogie for Thameslink trains by the end of 2011 and this has been successfully achieved. We continue to make good progress on all aspects of the Thameslink project and look forward to reaching contractual and financial close early in 2012.
Modern infrastructure operators and train operating companies demand the incorporation of the latest innovation based on proven technologies into bogie design. This has driven all manufacturers to use modern design and manufacturing techniques to develop bogies with significant reductions in weight. The SF7000 bogie has a welded bogie frame produced using state-of-the art robotic welding technology. The bogie’s lighter weight combined with other features contribute to reduced whole life, whole system costs and improved running behaviour for operators, including less track damage.
At Graz Siemens makes bogies for metros, tram cars, multiple units, high-speed trains and locomotives for markets all over the world. Since 1995, Siemens has built and delivered 33,500 bogies for its customers worldwide. Siemens has invested in the establishment of its own wheelset facility at Graz allowing the company to source axles, wheels, brake disks and other components from various suppliers and assemble the wheelsets itself, rather than relying on the supply chain.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
About Siemens
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 169 years ago and now employs 12,972 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £4.4 billion*. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry, infrastructure & cities 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
* Data includes intercompany revenue. Data may not be comparable with revenue reported in annual or interim reports.
As part of the Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector, Siemens Rail Systems Division provides expertise and technology in the full range of rail vehicles – from heavy rail to metros to trams and light-rail vehicles. In the UK, the Division employs around 650 people and maintains over 350 Siemens passenger trains for First TransPennine Express, South West Trains, Heathrow Express, National Express East Anglia, Northern Rail, London Midland and ScotRail.
For further press information, please contact:
Emma Whitaker
Senior PR & Government Affairs Manager
Siemens plc
+ 44 (0)7921 246942
emma.whitaker@siemens.com
[1] While the term 'bogies' is frequently used broadly, bogies are complex assemblies consisting of many subsystems including: running gear; wheel set guidance and primary suspension; bogie frame; secondary suspension; tractive force transfer: bogie - car body interface; traction motor drive; bogie-mounted brake equipment; piping and cabling and additional equipment.
