CAF rolling stock confirmed for Arriva

[n1dom]

http://www.arriva.co.uk/media/news/2016/21-01-2016

Plans for the multi-million pound investment programme in the Northern rail franchise have moved a step closer today as Arriva signed the contract to deliver the network’s new rolling stock.

Following a comprehensive procurement process, international train manufacturer CAF will build the 281 carriages with the first of the new trains, which will enable the outdated and unpopular Pacer trains to be replaced, delivered by October 2018. The deal will be financed by Eversholt Rail Group.

Arriva will work closely with CAF and Eversholt Rail Group throughout the build process to ensure the trains meet the high specification and delivery timescales promised by the transport operator. In a step-change for passengers, the new 100mph trains will include:

• Air conditioning
• Audio and visual on-board passenger information systems
• Power sockets and tables
• Cycle racks
• Toilets
• Digital CCTV systems, and;
• Free Wifi for passengers

The contract marks the latest milestone in Arriva’s mobilisation for the delivery of the franchise which was awarded by the Department for Transport in December 2015.

From 1 April 2016, Arriva will begin operating the nine-year contract which will see extensive investment in new and refurbished trains, as well as extra services, increased capacity and a variety of station and ticketing improvements.

The news follows Arriva’s announcement earlier this month that Alex Hynes will lead Northern’s 5,500 employees as managing director of Arriva Rail North Ltd.

His appointment, as well as today’s announcement on rolling stock, are the first steps in Arriva’s ambitious plans to transform the long-term future of rail throughout the North of England and demonstrate the company’s determination to deliver its commitments under the franchise.

Chris Burchell, Managing Director of Arriva’s UK Trains Division, said: “We feel hugely privileged to have been given the opportunity to transform travel for passengers across the North of England and today’s contract signing allows us to replace the outdated, unpopular Pacer trains as soon as possible.

“We are delighted to partner with CAF and Eversholt Rail Group to meet the high specification and demanding timetable for delivery of the new rolling stock. I hope that today’s announcement once again makes clear our determination to deliver on our promises to passengers.”

Arriva was supported through the procurement process by technical consultants, Racon, and legal advisors, Clyde & Co.

ENDS

Looks promising.

 

[Gareth Marston]

shock horror new DMU's could be built after all!!!!!

 

[yorksrob]

It's certainly nice to see tables included !

 

[Tracked]

Ooh, wonder when we'll see what they look like?

 

[Iskra]

Sounds great. Is it me or is 2018 quite ambitious? (Unless its an adaptation of an existing design)

Edit: are they compatible with 442's?

 

[Clansman]

I've always thought the trains in Ireland made by CAF would be good for Northern. Wonder if the Northern ones will share any similarity to the Irish ones but with 4ft8.5 track guage instead of the 5ft one in Ireland.
(I'm mostly on about the Class 22000, Class 3000 and Class 4000)

 

[TheGrew]

Wasn't it CAF that just bought land for a new factory in Widnes?

 

[northwichcat]

shock horror new DMU's could be built after all!!!!!

It was reported a while back CAF and Stadler were both showing Northern bidders options for diesel powered trains, so the award to CAF for new DMUs isn't that much of a surprise, especially considering Stadler were reportedly offering FLIRTs with an articulated engine vehicle and Arriva previously said the new DMUs will be 2 and 3 car which probably made the FLIRT a less viable option.

The new story still doesn't answer the question of exactly how many EMU carriages they'll be and how many DMU carriages they'll be. Doing some rough estimates based on the available information I'm guessing it'll be around 130 diesel vehicles and 150 electric.

 

[ainsworth74]

I've always thought the trains in Ireland made by CAF would be good for Northern. Wonder if the Northern ones will share any similarity to the Irish ones but with 4ft8.5 track guage instead of the 5ft one in Ireland.
(I'm mostly on about the Class 22000, Class 3000 and Class 4000)

I, for one, certainly wouldn't object to some NIR Class 4000 or 3000 alikes appearing on Northern! I was very impressed by them when I was over there back in April 2015.

 

[n1dom]

Wasn't it CAF that just bought land for a new factory in Widnes?

No. It's Alstom http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=123755

 

[northwichcat]

Wasn't it CAF that just bought land for a new factory in Widnes?

No Alstom for a multi purpose facility which will likely include maintaining rolling stock. However, also worth noting the lease on the Chester (Alstom) depot is due to expire in the near future and Arriva have reportedly looked at acquiring it as a Northern depot.

 

[Tracked]

Sounds great. Is it me or is 2018 quite ambitious? (Unless its an adaptation of an existing design)

Edit: are they compatible with 442's?

think compatibility with 142's would be more important, but not for long (fingers crossed)

 

[northwichcat]

think compatibility with 142's would be more important, but not for long (fingers crossed)

I imagine it won't even be considered. The new DMUs will be for Northern Connect routes so are unlikely to ever run in multiple with a Pacer.

 

[Neilo09]

I've always thought the trains in Ireland made by CAF would be good for Northern. Wonder if the Northern ones will share any similarity to the Irish ones but with 4ft8.5 track guage instead of the 5ft one in Ireland.
(I'm mostly on about the Class 22000, Class 3000 and Class 4000)

The 22000 is Hyundai rotem from Korea, The Irish mk4 intercity coaches are CAF and has awful riding and was worse then the BR mk3 they replaced but have improved a bit,

The Irish rail 29000 are CAF and are pretty much bullet proof, very reliable and not to bad comfort wise and built for commuter use but gets used on intercity services from time to time.

 

[TH172341]

Excellent to hear this - CAF have done a good job in the past on the CAF4000s and 3000s in Northern Ireland, and the Class 332/333 designs in collaboration with Siemens.

I assume it'll be a derivative of the Civity design that was unveiled last year - engine wise wouldn't surprise me if it's an emissions compliant MTU upgrade of the ones used in the 172s and CAF4000s which would be good news.

 

[northwichcat]

I assume it'll be a derivative of the Civity design that was unveiled last year - engine wise wouldn't surprise me if it's an emissions compliant MTU upgrade of the ones used in the 172s and CAF4000s which would be good news.

The details for that are on the CAF website: http://www.caf.net/en/productos-servicios/familia/civity/descripcion/solucion-integral.php

 

[Haydn1971]

Looks tidy... CAF seem to be doing quite well the world over though...

 

[cactustwirly]

I've always thought the trains in Ireland made by CAF would be good for Northern. Wonder if the Northern ones will share any similarity to the Irish ones but with 4ft8.5 track guage instead of the 5ft one in Ireland.
(I'm mostly on about the Class 22000, Class 3000 and Class 4000)

they remind me of the class 333

 

[Gareth Marston]

It was reported a while back CAF and Stadler were both showing Northern bidders options for diesel powered trains, so the award to CAF for new DMUs isn't that much of a surprise, especially considering Stadler were reportedly offering FLIRTs with an articulated engine vehicle and Arriva previously said the new DMUs will be 2 and 3 car which probably made the FLIRT a less viable option.

The new story still doesn't answer the question of exactly how many EMU carriages they'll be and how many DMU carriages they'll be. Doing some rough estimates based on the available information I'm guessing it'll be around 130 diesel vehicles and 150 electric.

Said in jest the likes of Stadler and CAF have always offered new DMU types despite what some people tried to spin.

 

[Clansman]

they remind me of the class 333

Thats what I thought when I first took a ride on one when they were first introduced. I guess that's what you get when they were built by the same company. They share the main body in terms of the windows and wide doors but with different cab ends and obviously with electrification and the 5ft guage.
Defiantly wouldn't mind seeing one of these at Blackpool or Sheffield where I regularly commute to, instead of the dreaded Pacers, and not to mention the potential idea of a cheeky 442

*Slams the door and runs away*

 

[Gareth Marston]

No Alstom for a multi purpose facility which will likely include maintaining rolling stock. However, also worth noting the lease on the Chester (Alstom) depot is due to expire in the near future and Arriva have reportedly looked at acquiring it as a Northern depot.

Wrong place for your main Northern Connect depot at the far south west fringe of it.

 

[6Gman]

Wrong place for your main Northern Connect depot at the far south west fringe of it.

Yes but handy for 3 trains per hour over the Halton Curve and 4tph to Knutsford!

 

[northwichcat]

Wrong place for your main Northern Connect depot at the far south west fringe of it.

It could house the 170s Scotrail release though and could be an ideal place to stable the Northern Connect units which end the day at Chester and possibly at Lime St as well.

It sounds like CAF will be building both the DMUs and EMUs so they'll need depots both sides of the Pennines given the wires to get EMUs between Leeds and Manchester won't exist until at least 4 years after the first units are produced.

 

[WatcherZero]

Would probably make more sense to base them at Newton Heath after moving some other stuff out.

 

[Techniquest]

If they're anything like IE's 29000 Class they'll be hellfire!

Anything like NIR's Class 3000 or Class 4000 units, they'll be a lot like 170s.

 

[edwin_m]

The DMUs should be straightforward for CAF, but I hope they've got some good people on board to do their EMU safety case. Each of the big manufacturers struggled to deal with this when they first had to face it.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A reading of the multinational commercial area of new train provision so far on this thread somewhat wickedly made a thought come into my mind of comparing all that had been said to what Adrian Shooter had in mind for "rail provision to meet the needs of the 21st century".

Well, I would say that, wouldn't I...

 

[MML]

Brilliant news. Multi-billion deal for new trains to be 'Made in Spain'.
That's sure to assist the balance of payments deficit. :roll:

 

[DT611]

The Irish rail 29000 are CAF and are pretty much bullet proof, very reliable and not to bad comfort wise and built for commuter use but gets used on intercity services from time to time.

You must have a very strong back. Anything over an hour on them things is not good. They actually end up doing a lot of intercity work funnily enough. They are well built and reliable though

 

[shyanthony]

That's the one of the perspective interiors for the train