Advice to Alstom Transport on tilting trains contract
19 September 2008
We advised ALSTOM Transport who have been chosen by the Department for Transport to supply additional new Pendolino high-speed tilting trains for use on the West Coast Main Line between London and Glasgow. The combined manufacture and maintenance order is valued at £1.5 billion.
Nick Olley, Head of our Rail Group said:
“We are delighted to have advised ALSTOM Transport on this major transaction which will bring much needed additional capacity to the West Coast Main Line. Once again our specialist rail knowledge has played a vital role in closing a complex multi-party deal the product of which will be tangible improvements for the passenger.”
The existing Pendolino fleet in use by Virgin West Coast comprises 52 x 9-Vehicle multiple unit trains built and maintained by ALSTOM and first introduced to service in 2003. The new deal will see ALSTOM manufacture four more 9-Vehicle Pendolino trains and additional vehicles to extend a minimum of 35 trains to 11-Vehicle formation, with the option for the DfT to extend the remaining 21 trains should additional funding be available. The resulting West Coast Main Line fleet will then comprise 56 trains with an additional 7,420 seats. The four new trains will be put into service in 2011 and 2012. Lengthened trains will enter service between April and December 2012.
The new trains will be manufactured at ALSTOM'S centre of excellence for high-speed models in Savigliano, Italy, where work will start in January 2009. Train lengthening will take place at ALSTOM'S maintenance centre in Liverpool, in the UK.
The new maintenance contract for the enlarged and extended fleet will extend the current one by ten years until March 2022. Maintenance will be performed at ALSTOM'S five 'Traincare Centres' along the West Coast Main Line.
Philippe Mellier, President of ALSTOM Transport said:
"This order confirms the success of the Pendolino. Since 2003, when the Pendolino was put into service on the West Coast Main Line by Virgin Trains, the number of passengers has risen 40%. With this order, Alstom will play a role in increasing the UK rail system's capacity while providing a service proven and safe rail system. We are also committed to providing UK railways with ongoing high-performance maintenance services – just as we've been doing since 2003 for our customer Virgin Trains."
Leading train leasing company Angel Trains will finance the new rolling stock which will be used by the operator of the West Coast Main Line franchise.
Rob Verrion, CEO of Angel Trains said:
“Angel Trains has been supportive of extending its Pendolino fleet to increase capacity for nearly two years and is therefore delighted that this deal has finally come to fruition. This move will reduce overcrowding and significantly improve the travel experience for passengers on the West Coast Main Line.”