3/11/2023 0 Comments Siemens mobilityThe Japanese conglomerate has promised to use “a different type of aluminium” for the undercarriage of the trains, according to one source.Īndrew Barr, Hitachi Rail chief executive, said: “We are excited to be pioneering the next generation of high speed rail in the UK.” It sparked chaos across long-distance express services and forced operators to re-introduce decades-old InterCity 125 locomotives. Shapps added that it “places Britain firmly at the forefront of the high-speed rail revolution with these state-of-the-art trains serving communities right across the country from London to Glasgow”.īut the selection of Hitachi raised some eyebrows after cracks were identified on its Azuma fleet earlier this year. The first will roll out in 2027, the Government said - but passengers will have to wait until 2029 before the vessels are in service. With a top speed of 225mph, the electric trains will lay claim to being the fastest in Europe. Shapps said: “This is another landmark step in the delivery of HS2 which will open up new employment and leisure opportunities for millions of people, levelling up opportunities for generations to come”. It will create roughly 500 new jobs, to “maintain” 2,500 in total. The HS2 contract will be split between Hitachi and French firm Alstom with work taking place across plants in County Durham, Derby and Crewe. Having come into contact with Australian deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, who tested positive for Covid, Shapps is now self-isolating. ![]() The transport secretary had been scheduled to travel to Hitachi’s train building plant in Newton Aycliffe on Thursday morning and award a £2bn contract to build 54 “state of the art” HS2 trains. On a significant day for the much-awaited HS2, Grant Shapps apologised for not venturing to County Durham to brave near-freezing temperatures. The inside track on HS2's £2bn fleet modelled on Japan's bullet trains John Larkinson, chief executive of the ORR, said: “Network Rail can reduce reliance on the dominant suppliers, and make the market more attractive to potential new suppliers by increasing suppliers’ confidence in the market and reducing costs.” Some 26,000 signals need to be upgraded over the next 15 years, meaning the pair are in line to share between £800m and £900m annually from work outside of HS2 unless procurement processes are changed. The two companies account for 90pc of taxpayers’ spending on upgrading signalling. The Office of Rail and Road last month ordered Network Rail, which owns the rest of the UK’s tracks and stations, to stop favouring Siemens and Alstom. With billions of pounds worth of contracts to hand out, HS2’s decision-making will be closely scrutinised by rail watchdogs. The disagreement could hit its chances of winning other contracts and it would be liable for legal costs worth hundreds of millions of pounds if the injunction was pursued but judges ruled against the company.Ī spokesman for Siemens Mobility said: “We’re obviously very disappointed by the announcement, as we believe we submitted a strong bid to build Britain’s new HS2 trains.” It is understood that the injunction was dropped by Siemens for two reasons. ![]() Siemens is one of four companies to have been shortlisted to deliver electronic signalling across phase 1 and 2a of HS2 - a contract worth more than £500m. It is understood it will be at least a year before this part of the proceeding is brought before judges.Ĭlaims filed with the High Court in November claimed that Hitachi and Alstom’s subsidiary, Bombardier, had failed to meet HS2’s technical requirements such as manufacturing standards, timetable and cost.īosses at Siemens, which is building a new £200m plant in Goole, East Yorkshire, are believed to be focusing on other HS2 contracts that will soon be put out to tender. Siemens’ decision to drop the injunction marks a victory for HS2 bosses who sought to “relegate” its challenge to a damages claim. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said the announcement “places Britain firmly at the forefront of the high-speed rail revolution with these state-of-the-art trains serving communities right across the country from London to Glasgow”. ![]() The German company will no longer seek an injunction to prevent the award, which paved the way for the Government to formally award Hitachi and Alstom with the flagship contract on Thursday. Siemens has dropped part of a legal challenge against HS2 over a £2.8bn train building contract as it eyes other lucrative work on the new high-speed line.
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