Alstom win order for ten new class 345s

[Gag Halfrunt]

Alstom signs a €430 million contract for 10 Aventra trains with associated maintenance for the Elizabeth line in London

Contract worth around €430 million for 10 nine-car Aventra trains and maintenance until 2046

www.alstom.com

mods note - split from this thread

Alstom signs a €430 million contract for 10 Aventra trains with associated maintenance for the Elizabeth line in London​

• Contract worth around €430 million for 10 nine-car Aventra trains and maintenance until 2046​

• Trains to be manufactured at Alstom’s UK facility in Derby​

14 June 2024 – Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has signed a contract worth around €430 million for 10 new nine-car Aventra trains for Transport for London’s Elizabeth line, along with associated maintenance until 2046.


Opened in 2022, the Elizabeth line continues to experience passenger demand ahead of predictions and its current 70-strong fleet of Alstom-built Aventra Class 345 trains would be insufficient to meet demand later this decade and through the 2030s.


Like the rest of the fleet, the additional Aventra electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger trains will be built at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works, the only UK facility that designs, engineers, builds and tests trains for domestic and export markets.


“We are delighted to now have a confirmed workload for Derby Litchurch Lane and our supply chain across the UK.” said Nick Crossfield, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.

He added: “The UK remains one of Alstom’s most important global markets.”

The contract includes new trains which are funded by £220.5 million from the Department for Transport, with Transport for London also contracting for the provision of train maintenance on the units until 2046.

Notes to Editors

Derby Litchurch Lane Works is Alstom’s largest manufacturing facility globally. The factory was opened by the Midland Railway in 1876 and the city of Derby has been building trains continually since 1839.

Alstom™ and Aventra™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.

 

[Trainbike46]

It might be me, but isn't £430 or £370 million on the high side for 10 trains?

 

[Trainman40083]

It might be me, but isn't £430 or £370 million on the high side for 10 trains?

Depends upon the level of maintenance over their life, I guess.

 

[dgl]

Don't worry they'll get most of the costs back in compensation for late delivery!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Depends upon the level of maintenance over their life, I guess.

It isn't clear who is paying what for the trains, but no Rosco has been mentioned so far.
The Alstom announcement is in Euros, not Sterling.
The DfT contribution is £220.5 million, which is presumably for the purchase, with separate TfL funding for the maintenance.
It's still north of £2 million per coach, but then the cabs are complicated with three signalling standards.

The DfT announcement says this: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...-for-tfl-to-procure-new-elizabeth-line-trains

In accordance with section 101 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, the government will provide TfL with the capital funding requested for the additional trains only.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

DfT press release

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...-for-tfl-to-procure-new-elizabeth-line-trains

The government has today (14 June 2024) confirmed funding for TfL to procure 10 new Elizabeth Line trains from the UK-based train manufacturer, Alstom.

Following careful consideration of TfL’s business case, the government has approved TfL’s request for funding for the additional trains.

The trains are needed due to strong passenger demand, expected growth on the Elizabeth Line, and will allow TfL to increase capacity on the network in the coming years.

The trains will be made at Alstom’s facility in Derby.

In accordance with section 101 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, the government will provide TfL with the capital funding requested for the additional trains only.

No mention of money by the govt but at least TfL are being fully funded for procurement costs. Leaves another below the line cost to be added to DfT budget though for next few years.

 

[ainsworth74]

You can tell there's an election on, that's a very circumspect announcement

 

[Chester1]

You can tell there's an election on, that's a very circumspect announcement

I doubt the DfT staff will have been comfortable doing the deal at all during an election campaign but its a sign of how late it is been left. Its entirely plausible there would not have been a deal on the table if it had been left another three weeks.

 

[DanNCL]

I’m surprised they’ve been allowed to confirm this now considering that both the DFT and TFL are subject to Purdah. But it’s good news that this has finally been signed off.

 

[meld3]

Price must have a large slush fund given several original suppliers are no longer trading and new ones will need finding for what is a very small order.

 

[Russel]

Surprising how a small order of just 10 trains will keep up to 2000 people in work.

Does much actual manufacturing happen in Derby or is it just a giant flatpack assembly plant?

 

[HSTEd]

Surprising how a small order of just 10 trains will keep up to 2000 people in work.

It probably won't.

This just guarantees the plant remains nominally open for a while longer.

 

[Trainman40083]

Surprising how a small order of just 10 trains will keep up to 2000 people in work.

Does much actual manufacturing happen in Derby or is it just a giant flatpack assembly plant?

I'd say it was an assembly plant

 

[NSEWonderer]

Seems to be some good News then.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I’m surprised they’ve been allowed to confirm this now considering that both the DFT and TFL are subject to Purdah. But it’s good news that this has finally been signed off.

It was already in play so technically not in breach of purdah.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

I’m surprised they’ve been allowed to confirm this now considering that both the DFT and TFL are subject to Purdah.

Alstom, being a quoted company, are required to disclose information about orders that could affect the share price. Back in October they had to issue a statement making clear that they had not signed a contract to build trains for Evolyn.

13/10/2023 - Alstom statement on Evolyn Press Release issued on October 11

13 October 2023 – In reference to the recent Evolyn Press Release issued on October 11, which seemingly confirmed an agreement between Evolyn and Alstom for the

www.alstom.com

If Alstom had put out a press release saying only that they had signed a €430 million contract with "a UK customer" people would have worked out what it was anyway.

 

[YorkRailFan]

It probably won't.

This just guarantees the plant remains nominally open for a while longer.

Long enough for Alstom to theoretically win any of the upcoming tenders for SE, TPE, Northern, Chiltern.

 

[Crithylum]

£370m seems quite high
iirc ~50 710s were roughly £300m

 

[Energy]

£370m seems quite high
iirc ~50 710s were roughly £300m

£370m is including maintenance, the capital cost of the trains themselves is £220.5m.

Rolling stock inflation has been high the past few years, and many suppliers for Aventra have shut down so the costs for a small order will be higher.

 

[AlexNL]

I'd say it was an assembly plant

The people in Derby can do a lot more than just assemble stuff, though.

A couple of years ago a programme was made showing how raw materials end up getting converted into a Class 720 - well worth a watch! If you can find it still... BBC Two - Inside the Factory, Series 7, Trains

 

[HSTEd]

Will they actually be identical 345s or might we expect minor differences in trim or similar, based on whatever is available?

Different door buttons and stuff like that.

 

[Busman]

Will they actually be identical 345s or might we expect minor differences in trim or similar, based on whatever is available?

Different door buttons and stuff like that.

No. Identical to the existing fleet.

 

[Russel]

No. Identical to the existing fleet.

Given the original build started 9 years ago and ended 5 years ago and it's been quoted in this thread multiple times that suppliers have gone out of business, I would be very surprised if there isn't some minor differences.

 

[Nym]

Never underestimate the determination of Litchurch Lane and TfL to force obsolete components and standards on their products.

Given the contract signing date and the number of changes to the GM/RT and EN series of standards, there will either need to be differences, or a lot of concessions. Even the "Name" of the cables used on the units are different now to when they were specified.

 

[Invincible]

The people in Derby can do a lot more than just assemble stuff, though.

A couple of years ago a programme was made showing how raw materials end up getting converted into a Class 720 - well worth a watch! If you can find it still... BBC Two - Inside the Factory, Series 7, Trains

Now in the period the programme will leave iPlayer and go to DVD. But is also downloadable from Amazon (episode 48) or ITunes from £1.89.

Watch Inside the Factory, Series 1 - 7 | Prime Video

A look at some of the largest factories in Britain.

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[sammyg901]

Is there any indication of what extra services these will be used for ?

 

[Horizon22]

Is there any indication of what extra services these will be used for ?

The 345 fleet is extensively used - only a few units of the entire fleet which are not used in the peak.

Also the extension to Old Oak Common following HS2 construction and the recent news that OOC will eb the HS2 terminus for some time lead to some very real concerns about overcrowding of the Eizabeth Line as train loads of people make the "last mile" into Central London.

 

[Goldfish62]

Does much actual manufacturing happen in Derby or is it just a giant flatpack assembly plant?

It's far from a mere assembly plant. It's a full research, design and manufacture facility. The only one left in the UK.

 

[meld3]

No mention of timescale, but will they be in service by next election anyone??

 

[YSTrains]

Will they be designated 345/1 or 345071-080