Transport for London (TfL) in the UK has awarded Bombardier Transportation two contracts worth more than $558m to build and maintain 45 new four-car, electric multiple units (EMUs) as part of the capital city’s LOTRAIN project.
The first contract is a manufacturing and supply agreement (MSA), which covers the design, manufacturing, commissioning and entry into service of 180 new vehicles, while the second is a 35-year train services agreement (TSA) to offer maintenance for the new vehicles.
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In addition to the base orders, the contracts include an option for up to 24 additional trains and another to extend the maintenance support for five years.
Bombardier Transportation Western Europe, Middle East and Africa president Per Allmer said: "These important contracts demonstrate TfL’s continued confidence in our ability to provide high-quality transportation products and services.
"We look forward to not only delivering these new trains for TfL, but also providing ongoing maintenance and technical support."
The new 20m Bombardier Aventra platform is expected to increase passenger capacity and reduce travel time on major London Overground routes.
The new trains will have similar features to the existing London Overground fleet, including walkthrough carriages, air-conditioning and improved accessibility.
The next-generation Aventra trains will be built in Derby and this new contract will help to create hundreds of job opportunities in the Midlands area, as well as more than 20 apprenticeships.
The company will deliver 31 four-car Aventra EMUs for operation on West Anglia routes from London Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford, and between Romford and Upminster.
The remaining 14 four-car trains will enter service on the existing London Overground routes, which include Gospel Oak to Barking, which are scheduled to be electrified by 2017, and Euston to Watford.
According to the company, the new trains are expected to enter into passenger service between December 2017 and October 2018.
