THAMESLINK
More about the Class 700 trains
The new Desiro City, designed for suburban, regional and mainline transport, reduces overall energy consumption and track wear by up to 50% compared to predecessor models. These trains are up to 25% lighter than the existing Desiro UK fleet, thanks mainly to car bodies of lightweight alu- minium construction and to bogies that are approximately one-third lighter in weight. The Desiro City also has a recycling quota of about 95%.
The Desiro City Thameslink trains can be coupled to form eight- and 12-car trains and operated in dual mode (750 V DC or 25 kV AC). They are built for a top speed of 160kmh or around 100mph. Siemens on-board units (OBU) that meet the requirements for the European Train Con- trol System (ETCS) Level 2 safeguard the communication between the trains and track- side equipment.
A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system equipped with CO2 sensors automatically controls the flow of fresh air according to the number of passengers in each car.
Although the trains will be manufactured at the Siemens factory in Krefeld, Germany, Siemens has sought to incorporate the UK supply chain into the process where possible. The first trains will enter service in 2016.
Source: Siemens
gave people the opportunity to touch and to feel and to experience the light and airy walk- through carriages, the open gangways, large windows, and wide doors.”
Many of the speakers, guests and engineers at the event emphasised the Tube-like frequencies that Thameslink will offer through the core,
as well as the important link with Crossrail at Farringdon, the connections to Eurostar and HS1 at St Pancras International, and the size of the new combined Thameslink franchise.
Indeed, the combined Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern franchise will (when merged from July 2015) be the biggest in the UK. FirstGroup, via FCC, will continue as operator on Thameslink until 14 September after a short-term extension to its contract was agreed in February.
Its rival ‘approved bidders’ for the joint franchise are Abellio, Govia, MTR and Stagecoach. The winner is expected to be announced in May.
Financing the fleet
Andy Pitt, executive chairman at fleet owner Cross London Trains, said: “We have demonstrated our confidence in these trains by raising the finance for them and making a massive investment in UK rail.”
Johannes Schmidt, CEO of Project & Structured Finance Infrastructure and Cities & Industry at Siemens Financial Services (SFS), writing for RTM in 2013, explained the financing of the rolling stock: “Siemens Project Ventures GmbH (SPV), entered into a jointly-owned consortium partnership – Cross London Trains (XLT) – alongside equal equity investors Innisfree Ltd and 3i Infrastructure Plc.
“The deal has been financed with a debt facility arranged through a syndicated loan group consisting of 19 banks with SMBC, Lloyds, KfW and BTMU acting as mandated lead arrangers (MLAs), alongside a debt facility from the European Investment Bank. The Siemens-XLT consortium was advised by Barclays Capital throughout the financing arrangements.
“Meanwhile, the two depots have been financed exclusively by Siemens Financial Services.”
A model of the train has been on a ‘roadshow’ around major stations on the future Thamslink network. Its final stop is Gatwick Airport station on 12 March.
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rail technology magazine Feb/Mar 14 | 87
©AP Photo & Frank Augstein
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