23.09.15
TfL to decide on extension of Alstom’s Northern Line contract
Transport for London (TfL) will decide at its board meeting tomorrow (24 September) whether to renew Alstom’s Northern Line contract.
The train service contract, agreed in 1995, makes Alstom responsible for providing and maintaining the trains, equipment and depot works for the line.
Though the current deal expires in 2033, London Underground has the option to end the contract in 2017 and 2027. It will decide tomorrow if it will renew the contract until 2017 and give the go-ahead to the ‘secondary usage period’ running until 2027.
TfL must decide by 30 September and, once served, the deal is irrevocable.
The trains, equipment and depot works undertaken by the private company are financed through sale lease arrangements between Alstom and two lessor banks.
In May, Alstom completed the modernisation of 106 trains serving the line, following a two-year upgrade programme for the capital’s underground.
The mid-life refurbishment programme for the six-car 1995 Stock trains included replacing 3.7 million items on the fleet, which Alstom said represents approximately 35,000 components per train.
Teams worked at Alstom’s Modern and Golders Green Metro Traincare Centres to replace 11km of lino in the fleet, polish almost 16,000 windows to remove graffiti and change 27,500 seat backs.
The Northern Line fleet built by Alstom travels around 15 million kilometres a year.