HS2

16.05.16

Bombardier opens Crossrail testing facility in Derby

Bombardier will test and commission its Crossrail trains at a new facility in Derby, which formally opened on Friday.

The 10,000 square metre site has been built to support the production of 66 new Aventra nine-car class 345 EMUs.

The facility, built by Balfour Beatty, cost £12m and features four 250m train roads for testing the trains.

Richard Hunter, managing director of Bombardier Transportation UK, said: “This new £12 million facility is one of the biggest investments in the history of our Derby site and ‘V’ Shop (as the finished test facility will be known) will be a fundamental part of both our current projects and future train builds, enhancing our ability to deliver all the stages of a new train product from a single UK site.

“It increases our capacity to deliver high volume orders within short timescales, ensuring we meet the future requirements of the UK market.”

Patrick McLoughlin MP, the transport secretary, who opened the facility, said: “I am delighted to open this new testing and commissioning facility in Derby, which will ensure passengers benefit from cutting edge trains with improved capacity and comfort.”

New station designs for Crossrail, renamed the Elizabeth Line, were released last week.

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Comments

Andrew Gwilt   17/05/2016 at 20:27

Plus TfL London Overground's Class 710's may also be tested as they are also to be built unless they are to be tested at nearby Old Dalby test track. But its good that the Class 345's will be tested aswell being built before they are used on TfL Elizabeth Line in 2019 and TfL London Overground Class 710's to be in service from 2017-onwards.

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