Rolling stock
procurement such as this is used to provide a boost to British jobs and growth, particularly at a time of rising unemployment. By including in the Crossrail procurement process a requirement for bidders to establish a local presence, engage with the supply chain and provide opportunities for training and apprentices, the government seems to have finally learned the lessons from the Thameslink fiasco, which saw British investment creating jobs in Germany and cost 1,400 jobs at Bombardier in Derby. ‘It is clear that the disastrous outcome of
the Thameslink procurement was thanks to basing the decision on the bidders’ ability to raise finance, rather than their ability to build trains.’
Bob Crow, leader of the RMT union, says:
‘We will be monitoring the Crossrail process closely for any repeat of the Thameslink fiasco. We expect engineering excellence and socio-economic factors to be top of the tendering criteria to give Bombardier a proper chance this time around, unlike the loaded Thameslink scandal.’ Diana Holland, assistant general secretary of the Unite union, added: ‘The mistakes the
government made almost closed Britain’s last train maker. At first sight, the procurement criteria for the Crossrail contract looks like an improvement.’ But Siemens has warned that the
government must not bias its decision about the rolling stock in favour of the only British bidder. Although Siemens was named as preferred bidder for Thameslink last June, the contract has yet to be signed. That is expected to happen this spring. UK head of Siemens, Steve Scrimshaw,
told the Guardian that he was looking for ‘a fair playing field’. He added: ‘Anything else would be
anti-competitive, and could have long-term damaging consequences for a competitive Britain that is open for business.’ Scrimshaw also defended the outcome of
the Thameslink procurement, which he said had been ‘fair and transparent’. Hitachi has been preferred bidder for the
next generation of intercity express trains for three years, though the contract has not been signed. The Spanish firm CAF recently won the contract to build new trams for the Midland Metro.
Crossrail rolling stock requirements
Fifty-seven trains will be used in service each day
Each train will have 450 seats and a capacity for 1,500 passengers
Wide through-gangways between carriages Four wheelchair spaces on each train Maximum length of 205 metres Top speed of 90mph
Power will be 25kV AC from overhead line, with the potential to convert to third rail
Automatic train operation in the central tunnel section ECTS signal protection for surface running
350-tonne maximum weight to minimise wear and tear on tracks
Regenerative braking and real-time onboard energy metering
Continuously updated passenger journey information
Integration with platform screen doors at the central section stations
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