This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
ROLLING STOCK


engage with the supply chain as early as possible on future procurement projects, so that businesses in our region can plan their future workload in a more sustainable way, allowing UK companies to deliver en- hanced value for money projects to both the tax and fare payer.”


Silver lining


Siemens has promised to create up to 2,000 new jobs in the UK as part of the £3bn con- tract, but the majority of these will be tem- porary construction jobs, with only 300 associated with long-term railway manufac- turing. Those components jobs are likely to be created at its factory in Hebburn, South Tyneside. It plans to start recruiting new staff at the end of 2012 to boost its current North East workforce of 2,000.


Steve Scrimshaw, managing director for Siemens rolling stock business in the UK, said the decision was “a credit to the hard work and dedication of those involved.”


Siemens is also building new depots at Three Bridges in West Sussex and Hornsey in North London, and has said the works will create and secure many more jobs


in the supply chain – but, ultimately, the 1,200 Thameslink carriages themselves will be built in Germany.


A team from Siemens will now work with funders and the DfT for several months to reach financial closure and conclude the multi-billion pound contract, which will be the largest order in the commuter and re- gional market ever awarded to Siemens plc and the first for the Desiro City Platform.


The first of the new Desiro City trains will come into service in 2015.


Devastated


Francis Paonessa, president of Bombardier’s passengers division for the UK, said after making the job cuts announce- ment: “We regret this outcome but without new orders we cannot maintain the current level of employment and activity at Derby.”


Colin S Walton, chairman of Bombardier Transportation in the UK, and chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership cover- ing Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, is known to be devastated at the decision and its consequences, and has called the day of


the announcement the worst of his career.


The company was already under pressure after losing out to Hitachi for the InterCity Express Project contract – with that deci- sion too boosting the North East econo- my, with the creation of a new factory at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, over the strong cluster of rail businesses in the East Midlands.


Reserve bidder


Rail minister Theresa Villiers said the deci- sion was based on the value for money of the Siemens-led bid.


She said Bombardier’s bid – technically comprising Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd with VeloCity, a special purpose compa- ny comprising Bombardier Transportation (Holdings) UK Ltd, RREEF Ltd, Serco Holdings Ltd, Amber Infrastructure Group Ltd and SMBC Leasing (UK) Ltd – also presented an “attractive proposal” and will remain as the “reserve bidder”.


FOR MORE INFORMATION


Visit www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/ thameslinkrollingstock


rail technology magazine Jun/Jul 11 | 101


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116