British technical input in Class 373s

[Sad Sprinter]

For an academic project, does anyone know what parts of the original Eurostar trains were made by GEC? As I’m aware the traction motors and ventilation equipment were. Was the ventilation system particularly unique/complex at all?

 

[grumpyoldman01]

GEC and CGE formed GEC ALSTHOM in 1989, and acquired Metro-Cammell in the same year; so apart from the parts of the 373s made by Bombardier and De Dietrich, it can be argued that the vast majority was made by GEC [ALSTHOM].

But I don't think that's what you really want to know.

Manufacture was shared between plants in the UK, France, and Belgium, often with some equipment being shared on an approximate 50/50 split between two countries; traction motors were a case in point, with the design being by Brush (but based on one by Alsthom) and manufacture was shared between Loughborough and Alsthom's French traction motor manufacturing plant (Tarbes?). The control blocks were designed by GEC at Preston, and at least some of them - possibly all - were manufactured there.

 

[hwl]

GEC-Alstom also bought another project supplier ACEC* (Belgian) during the build process so even more opaque as to what came from whom within GEC-Alstom in the end.
BN (Later a Bombarider plant that built the Voyager and Meridians also got some work including the centre cars where the units could be split).

Traction motors were Brush.

I'll need to dig more for the detail


*developers of the tech behind GW-ATP

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There are AVE trains in Spain derived from TGVs and labelled prominently "GEC-Alsthom" (built at roughly the same time as 373s).
But I'm not sure if there is any UK content in them.
I guess the UK Pendolinos have a greater UK content than 373s (eg Preston traction motors).
Also didn't the UK specify the external styling of the 373s?
That might not translate into any UK hardware of course.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

GEC and Alsthom had merged by then to form one company called GEC-Alsthom, so the use of that name on the works plates is not evidence of UK involvement. In 1998 GEC-Alsthom was renamed Alstom, without the H.

This thread discusses how the development of the Class 373 was shared out amongst UK, French and Belgian companies, leading directly to the merger of GEC and Alsthom.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

GEC and Alsthom had merged by then to form one company called GEC-Alsthom, so the use of that name on the works plates is not evidence of UK involvement. In 1998 GEC-Alsthom was renamed Alstom, without the H.

This thread discusses how the development of the Class 373 was shared out amongst UK, French and Belgian companies, leading directly to the merger of GEC and Alsthom.

*facepalm* why didn’t I check my own thread on the same topic before asking the same question!

 

[grumpyoldman01]

There are AVE trains in Spain derived from TGVs and labelled prominently "GEC-Alsthom" (built at roughly the same time as 373s).
But I'm not sure if there is any UK content in them.
I guess the UK Pendolinos have a greater UK content than 373s (eg Preston traction motors).
Also didn't the UK specify the external styling of the 373s?
That might not translate into any UK hardware of course.

External styling of the power cars and some internal design was undertaken by Jones Garrard of Leicester, and some of these designs were converted into manufacturing drawings/etc by RFS Projects of Belper.

Apart from the end vehicles of each half-set (built by Bombardier owned BN in Bruges and De Dietrich), all bodyshells were fabricated at La Rochelle, but all of those intended for BR-owned Eurostars were fitted-out at Metro-Cammell in Birmingham

In years gone by - and before the establishment of GEC ALSTHOM - Preston sometimes manufactured traction motors for ALSTHOM (I remember seeing some being made on a visit to Strand Road about 30 years ago); it is possible, therefore, that some of the AVEs have British MADE equipment, but very unlikely that there is anything fitted which was DESIGNED in this country.

 

[hwl]

External styling of the power cars and some internal design was undertaken by Jones Garrard of Leicester, and some of these designs were converted into manufacturing drawings/etc by RFS Projects of Belper.

Apart from the end vehicles of each half-set (built by Bombardier owned BN in Bruges and De Dietrich), all bodyshells were fabricated at La Rochelle, but all of those intended for BR-owned Eurostars were fitted-out at Metro-Cammell in Birmingham

In years gone by - and before the establishment of GEC ALSTHOM - Preston sometimes manufactured traction motors for ALSTHOM (I remember seeing some being made on a visit to Strand Road about 30 years ago); it is possible, therefore, that some of the AVEs have British MADE equipment, but very unlikely that there is anything fitted which was DESIGNED in this country.

The other key designers were Roger Tallon (FR) and Jacques Tilman (BE). Jones Garrard also did the buffet interiors.

The other main contractor was AFN who were bought by Bombardier during the project and supplied some of the electric equipment (still around as Bombardier's French plant but not for electrical equipment).

THe 3rd rail and the rheostatic etc. braking equipment were British designed.