01.05.06
Two new locos for Underground
Metronet Rail and its contractor Balfour Beatty Rail have received four new locomotives.
The new battery locos, which will be used to haul materials and plant along the London Underground’s 1.5 mile Waterloo and City Tube line, have been designed and built to deadline – in just 17 weeks.
Stephen Hall, Metronet’s Chief Programmes Officer, said, “This sets the pace and says, ‘ This project is underway now’ and we are determined to deliver for our customer London Underground – and Londoners.”
Richard Adams, Managing Director for Balfour Beatty Rail London Underground Services, the contractor which is carrying out the track and signalling works, said, “This is the first of many milestones to be achieved on this important contract for Metronet and London Underground.”
The locos, which have been named ‘Walter’, ‘Lour’, ‘Anne’ and ‘Kitty’ in honour of the 107 year old line, weigh 15 tonnes apiece and are fitted with two 75hp motors. They are designed to navigate the tight corners and steep gradients of the Waterloo and City line, and can be adapted to help Metronet in its track renewals work in the deep Tubes of the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines.
Derby firm, Clayton Equipment, worked hard to deliver the locos on time after receiving the order in October of last year. They took 2,000 hours to develop and 4,000 to build, with senior management helping as the twelve-strong workforce worked extended hours, weekends and over Christmas to complete the job.
Bob Overton, Finance and Commercial Director for Clayton, explained, “We had to delay our factory move to accommodate the order. Clayton is delighted that its efforts have given Balfour Beatty and Metronet a product they can be proud of, and we are proud of the result.”
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