Thameslink contract signed: Siemens to deliver trains worth circa 1.8 billion euros

This order is an impressive reminder of our leading position in the British rail market, where we enjoy an excellent reputation. Our commuter trains are seen as the most reliable in the country. Annually, more than 350 trains travel over 80 million kilometers in Great Britain, says Jochen Eickholt, CEO of Siemens Rail Systems.

The Thameslink north-south commuter route runs through London, connecting Bedford, located to the north east of the capital, with Brighton, on the south coast.

Introducing a high capacity, high frequency service of longer trains, extended platforms and new stations, the project is regarded as one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in the UK. Siemens was named preferred bidder in June 2011.

For the Thameslink project Siemens invested almost 50 million euros in the development of a new train platform. The new Desiro City for suburban, regional and main-line transport reduces overall energy consumption and track wear by up to 50% compared to predecessor models. Thanks to an improved interior layout, the new generation of trains also offers greater comfort and increased flexibility. The number of seats and the distances between them can also be varied according to passenger demand or the area of deployment, providing additional standing room or space for bicycles and wheelchairs where needed. The trains will be manufactured at the Siemens factory in Krefeld, Germany, and the first trains will enter service in 2016.

Backed by years of experience gained from the delivery of around 1,500 cars of its service-proven Desiro platform for Great Britain, Siemens developed the Desiro City – a new platform designed specifically for the British market. These trains are up to 25 percent lighter than the existing Desiro UK fleet, thanks mainly to car bodies of lightweight aluminum construction and to bogies that are approximately one-third lighter in weight. It has a recycling quota of about 95 percent. The Desiro City is based on the Single Car Concept, which integrates the entire traction equipment into one motor car. All of these motor cars are identically equipped and can be used both as end cars and as intermediate cars. This ensures a high degree of flexibility when it comes to adjusting the train configuration to cope with expected passenger volumes.

The Desiro City Thameslink can be coupled to form 8 and 12-car trains and operated in dual mode (750 V DC or 25 kV AC). They are built for a top speed of 160 km/h or around 100 mph. Siemens on-board units (OBU) that meet the requirements for the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 safeguard the communication between the trains and trackside equipment. A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system equipped with CO2 sensors automatically controls the flow of fresh air according to the number of passengers in each car.

Siemens will also oversee the maintenance of the fleet and build two new rolling stock depots in Three Bridges and Hornsey. Siemens is the market leader for service and maintenance in the UK, ensuring that over 350 trains enter passenger service each day. Including this latest contract, Siemens has now supplied close to 3,000 rail vehicles to Great Britain.