Engineering news
TransPennine Express (TPE), the intercity rail operator, is to purchase a further 126 carriages for its routes in northern England and Scotland.
TPE will invest more than £230 million in 25 new five-carriage trains which will be in service across the network by 2019.
The contract will see the introduction of two new fleets: 12 five-carriage Civity UK InterCity electric trains to operate between Manchester and Liverpool to Glasgow and Edinburgh and 13 sets of five-car InterCity which will operate initially between Liverpool and Newcastle.
Spanish manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) has secured the contract to build both the new electric multiple units and the loco-hauled carriages. No UK manufacturers took part in the competitive tender process, according to TPE.
Unions have reacted angrily to the news.
Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: "It is a sad indictment of our railways that, at a time when our steel-making and manufacturing industries are in crisis, these new trains are not being built here in Britain.
"With the pressures on our railways, and the constant demand for extra capacity, the government should embark on some joined up thinking and make serious efforts to use these opportunities to protect UK steel making and our manufacturing base. "
Meanwhile, most of the Class 68 diesel locomotives to be used have already been built.
CAF will provide technical support and spares for both fleets. Maintenance will be undertaken by Alstom at its facilities at Longsight near Manchester, Edge Hill near Liverpool and Polmadie near Glasgow.
Antonio Campos, CAF, international commercial director for Western Europe, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for CAF to strengthen its presence in this region and consolidate its position as one of the leading manufacturers of trains for the UK market. We are delighted to have our total product range such as the sleepers, coaches, EMUs, DMUs and trams operating throughout the UK rail network."
Richard Garner, CAF business development director for UK and Ireland, added: "These new contracts further support the economy of the Northern Powerhouse including the creation of 50 new jobs. CAF will invest in a new central logistics hub and as an established supplier into the UK market; CAF now has a solid economic basis for further increasing its footprint in the UK.”
Henrik Anderberg, acting managing director of Alstom UK & Ireland, said: “Now, with this contract, and our Widnes Technology Centre and Training Academy that received planning permission last week, Alstom can deliver another 25 new permanent jobs, and a whole host of training and apprenticeship opportunities for local people.”