Bombardier Transportation has won a major order for its next generation “Green Trains”. The contract is for twelve 2-car trains and fifteen 3-car trains worth 129 million euros ($189 million US) and is from Porterbrook Leasing for train operator Govia for services on the London Midland franchise. The units will be delivered between Q1 2010 and with the final delivery by the end of Q2 2010.
Commenting on the order, President of Bombardier’s Mainline & Metros Division, Stephane Rambaud-Measson, said: “I am delighted that Bombardier has won this important contract for our next generation DMU Class 172 vehicle. This vehicle will be the lightest modern DMU in its class and will meet the very latest standards in emissions. Using the modular platform of our award winning TURBOSTAR train, Bombardier is able to make step changes in technology and environmental attributes of the vehicle, whilst providing the financiers and operators with a proven, low-risk, and reliable product.”
Production of the new TURBOSTAR trains will take place in Bombardier’s Derby plant, with bogies being produced at Bombardier’s Siegen site in Germany. The units will feature the renowned, sophisticated BOMBARDIER MITRAC system, offering proven reliability and energy efficiency and offering applications to secure safe and economically optimized traction power.
Colin Walton, Chairman of Bombardier in the UK, added: “Our new Green Trains, the next generation of TURBOSTAR trains, provide an environmentally-friendly product with lower weight, reduced CO2 emissions, lower fuel consumption and the trains are made with over 90% recyclable materials. This order will allow us to re-start our TURBOSTAR production line providing much welcomed work for our Derby site. The new TURBOSTAR trains would also be an ideal replacement for the aging “Pacer” trains in the UK and I will be discussing this possibility with the operators of the Pacers in the near future.”
Stephen Banaghan, Managing Director of London Midland said: ”The new TURBOSTAR trains are good news for London Midland passengers. The trains will completely transform the travelling experience of people who are currently using the ageing Class 150s in the West Midlands, and will also assist us is meeting our targets for continuous improvement in punctuality and reliability.”
Porterbrook Managing Director, Paul Francis, said “This will be the twenty fifth order that Porterbrook has placed for TURBOSTAR trains bringing our fleet to circa five hundred vehicles. This demonstrates our confidence in the product and we are delighted to be working with London Midland and Bombardier to develop the next generation of TURBOSTAR trains in the Class 172. With lower weight, better fuel efficiency and lower emissions the new train will help in improving further the environmental and sustainability benefits of rail”