Latest Rail News

30.08.17

Bombardier handed £112m LU propulsion technology supply deal

Bombardier Transportation has been awarded a seven-year contract to supply new motors and traction control equipment for London Underground’s Central Line fleet worth over £112m.

The contract, which started on Friday last week and will run until 2024, also includes the provision of ongoing maintenance support.

The company will replace the DC traction motors on the Central Line trains – the last stock to use that technology in the Underground – with the latest MITRAC AC traction systems and MITRAC traction control equipment.

MITRAC propulsion technology is expected to bring “significant benefits” by cutting down on energy consumption as well as greatly improving fleet reliability and performance.

In total, the foreign firm will supply new motors and traction control equipment for 85 eight-car trains, adding up to 680 cars in total.

It will lead the project from its Västeras site in Sweden while also taking advantage of the capabilities of other sites in Bombardier’s manufacturing network. The installation of the first train and associated vehicle integration works and testing will be undertaken in its Derby site in the UK.

Richard Hunter, managing director of Bombardier Transportation UK, argued the contract win is a “testament to the significant improvements” that the company’s MITRAC systems can provide.

“This win is also a ringing endorsement of our traction system business, following MITRAC’s strong performance on other London Underground lines,” he added. “Bombardier has a long history of working with London Underground, and we continue to provide cutting-edge technology across the tube network, playing a vital role in keeping London moving.”

Mark Wild, London Underground’s MD, also emphasised that installing new motors is “one of the most important parts” of the work to reduce delays on the Central Line, one of London’s busiest and most important routes.

(Top image c. PeterSkuce)

Comments

David   30/08/2017 at 15:53

I was under the impression that an AC retrofit was considered uneconomical compared to purchasing new rolling stock, though I suppose that was before NTfL was scrapped and retendered...

Sonning Cutting   30/08/2017 at 18:12

Surely Piccadilly and Bakerloo line Trains still have DC propulsion equipment incorporating the LT118 motors etc. Or have I missed something.

Andrew Gwilt   30/08/2017 at 21:11

What about the Waterloo & City Line rolling stocks that are also due for a upgrade.

Andrew JG   31/08/2017 at 10:12

What about fitting new traction motors onto the Waterloo and City line rolling stocks. Or has the W&C line rolling stocks already been upgraded.

100Andthirty   01/09/2017 at 11:37

Waterloo and City line has a much lower duty than the Central line and therefore all the propulsion systems are more reliable. After the works on the Central there will be a virtually endless source of spares from the equipment removed from the Central Line. Of course. LU may have a different cunning plan!

James   01/09/2017 at 16:45

I though only 4 out of 8 cars were powered on Central line trains?

100Andthirty   09/09/2017 at 09:48

James All cars are motored. That is 680 propulsion packages and 2720 traction motors.

Joel   03/10/2017 at 15:07

Not being an engineer, not sure how this might fit in, but the LU grand plan is to increase con rail electricity supply to 700 volts. As the Central Line stock is just over halfway through its working life (give or take), remotoring may make the trains compatible with the power upgrade and thus allowing them to be the last fleet renewal?

Joel   03/10/2017 at 15:08

Not being an engineer, not sure how this might fit in, but the LU grand plan is to increase con rail electricity supply to 700 volts. As the Central Line stock is just over halfway through its working life (give or take), remotoring may make the trains compatible with the power upgrade and thus allowing them to be the last fleet renewal?

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