02.05.14
Bombardier on track to manufacture 1000th Southern carriage
Derby-based train manufacturer Bombardier is due to hit a production milestone next week by manufacturing its 1,000th carriage for Southern Railway.
Since July 2002, the factory at Litchurch Lane has supplied the Southern network with several new fleets, beginning with 700 Class 377/1-4 vehicles as part of the Mk1 replacement programme.
Since then there have been several more orders to meet the growing capacity needs of the Sussex/Surrey network including the 44-strong Class 171 diesel fleet which now serves the Uckfield line and the Marshlink.
On 7 May, Bombardier will reach its manufacturing milestone and Francis Paonessa, outgoing managing director of Bombardier Transportation UK, said: “This milestone demonstrates the enduring and highly successful partnership with our customers, Southern and Porterbrook, who have shown great confidence in our Electrostar trains – a fleet that has continuously evolved in line with passengers’ requirements for comfort and shorter journey times.
“Furthermore, the latest trains on order have the capacity to operate at speeds of up to 110 mph.”
The Southern and Bombardier relationship will continue, with the factory due to produce 116 Class 387 carriages which Southern is procuring on behalf of the DfT to help facilitate the cascade of EMUs as featured in the government’s Rail Investment Programme.
Chris Burchell, managing director of Southern Railway, said: “The great contribution made by Derby engineers to rail travel in Britain continues and there are millions of Southern passengers who are, and who will continue to benefit, from the trains they produce.”
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin also congratulated Bombardier on building the thousandth carriage for Southern.
“These electric trains are already transforming travel for Southern’s passengers, and more will be delivered to strengthen services on other parts of the network,” he added.
(Image of Litchurch Lane works: Rui Vieira / PA Wire)
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