28.01.14
New Thameslink rolling stock goes on show
A full-scale mock-up of the new Thameslink rolling stock has been unveiled today, with a test unit set up inside the ExCel conference centre in east London.
Rail minister Stephen Hammond launched the mock-up vehicle, joined by First Capital Connect managing director David Statham, Siemens Rail Systems UK boss Steve Scrimshaw, and Andy Pitt, executive chairman of financer Cross London Trains.
The Class 700 trains, being built in Germany by Siemens, begin coming into passenger service in early 2016, with the fleet expanding by a new train in passenger service every week.
Hammond said: “Once operational they will provide a huge benefit to the hundreds of thousands of passengers who travel into London every day. It will vastly improve train travel providing fast, reliable and more frequent services.”
Design and development of the new trains has cost Siemens £80m so far, and Scrimshaw said the final result “incorporates the feedback of UK train operators, train crew, cleaners and maintainers, as well as dedicated passenger research, helping us turn proven technology and expertise into a state-of-the-art train of the future”.
Overall, 1,140 carriages are to be delivered under the £1.6bn rolling stock contract, to be configured as 55 12-carriage trains and 60 eight-carriage trains. Maintenance and engineering will be carried out at depots at Three Bridges and Hornsey, being built by Volker Fitzpatrick.
Infrastructure work as part of the Thameslink programme continues, including major works at London Bridge, track and tunnel works linking the existing Thameslink and Great Northern routes, and new signalling. The highest frequency services through the core, up to 24 trains per hour, will come thanks to ATO.
The Thameslink train is on public show at ExCel today from 2pm, and then a model of the train (see below) will go on a ‘roadshow’ around major stations on the future Thamslink network. Full details are here: www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/about-us/discover-new-trains/discover-your-new-thameslink-train/
See the February/March edition of RTM for full coverage of the event, including more photos, interviews with all the key people and technical data on the train and bogie.
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