Peter Sarf
Established Member
Order ?. I doubt it.
More likely hinting that SE could use the things that SWR don't seem to think they need !.
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Potential up to 2,000 job losses at Alstom Derby
- Thread starter Snow1964
- Start date
More likely hinting that SE could use the things that SWR don't seem to think they need !.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
43096
On Moderation
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2015
- Messages
- 15,344
Could be both. Surplus of SWR sets transfer plus a top-up of a new order. SWR had an option for additional sets, if it hasn’t expired it could be activated to avoid tendering the requirement.
Bornin1980s
Member
- Joined
- 4 Apr 2017
- Messages
- 497
It's already blue!Almost certain Steve White (Southeastern MD) isn’t teasing something… but an interesting tweet nonetheless. https://x.com/stevewhiterail/status/1779045011943776324?s=46
(A picture of a 701 with the caption “Doesn’t this train look good in blue. Just saying“)
More cost effective in the long run doesn't provide tax breaks to your donors in the short-run.
Expired - The option was 5 extra 10-car units if ordered before October 2020. Alstom would probably still do it but would likely price higher.
Nowhere near enough spare to see off the BREL/ABB 465s (97 of them), though there should be enough within the fleet to take over 376 operations.
43096
On Moderation
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2015
- Messages
- 15,344
The other option would be to specify any tender in such a way that the only option would be Aventras. "Compatibility with existing Class 701 fleet" or similar. The same way that London Midland procured the Class 350/3s by specifying compatibility with their existing Class 350 fleet.
Plus any SWR don’t need…..
Do 5 or 10 car 701s match the train lengths/platforms on any SE routes?
Nissan Sunderland most certainly does bend metal
No the ideal is 12 car on Charing Cross or Cannon Street if SDO were to be fitted (in the previous tender) or 8car for Victoria or Blackfriars (10 car with SDO would work for many of these station as there are plenty of easy extensions.
RUK
Member
Is there an excess of Class 701s in the SWR order? You could probably get extra vehicles in the new order by extending the 10-car Class 701s to 12-car for Southeastern, for those routes which can take them.
Trainman40083
Member
Are the 10 car 701 units, the same length as Networker 12 car units?
Snow1964
Established Member
No, they are about 202m (12car networker is about 242m) from memory.
No doubt someone will be along and quote length to a milimetre
At the time of ordering (in 2017) there were almost same number of vehicles already, compared to 750 ordered, consisting 91x4 (455), 24x2 (456), 36x5 (458), 30x5 (707) =742, so was almost one for one replacement, not an expansion (although the 707s were still entering service back in 2017)
Last edited:
43096
On Moderation
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2015
- Messages
- 15,344
Given that this was to cover an expanded service - particularly to Reading and Windsor - there would appear to be less sets now needed. As Reading now no longer has peak extras, and there appears to be no intention of bringing them back, then you'd think at least 10 x 10-car sets would now be surplus.
Kite159
Veteran Member
However won't a 10 coach unit foul some of the junctions on the routes out of Victoria towards Lewisham & Orpington?
Brixton southbound if the stopping point isn't changed (which is do-able if a little unusual to have the door not opening at the front rather than the back with SDO)
Currently in use is the key though. SWR has a shortage of units and key routes often end up with short forms (although many in spirit in that they are diagramed shorter than they should be)
Mikey C
Established Member
- Joined
- 11 Feb 2013
- Messages
- 6,867
Indeed! They make engines there as well, and a battery plant is being built next door, it's a major manufacturing site, much more so than Alstom Derby.
CAF397
Member
The transport Secretary has met with the Alstom CEO today
Trainman40083
Member
You get the feeling that things are starting to move forward. Be interesting to see how many trains (if any) get ordered.
Bornin1980s
Member
- Joined
- 4 Apr 2017
- Messages
- 497
So the CEO is visiting the UK?
Trainman40083
Member
So it would seem.... Can't imagine Harper going to France
YorkRailFan
On Moderation
Alstom is still hoping for that order for EL.
Fingers crossed a solution is reached.
Nym
Established Member
So just when anyone good has found alternative employment they’ll try to restart with all contractors, quality will be low and then that will be the last contract that is delivered by Derby
The Rail Minister took an urgent question on the matter in Parliament today. Two key points made among others were that any award to Derby needs to be legally watertight in the context of there being four manufacturers with plant in the UK, and that trains are built for a life of 35 to 40 years.
Trainman40083
Member
Oh yes, VERY legally watertight. Can only be through an existing option.
Re: post 859: "Discussions to be concluded by the end of May" - they needed an order months ago. If one IS placed at the end of may it will mean a complete restart of the whole sourcing/building process - some of those suppliers have apparently already ceased trading and staff have found new jobs. Nothing will actually start to take shape for months and what do they do with the staff in the meantime ? I can see a bit of a fiasco building here........
Nym
Established Member
The site is essentially dead already now. The only reason to keep it as it “was” now is nostalgia. Effort would be more productively focused by the govt on finding alternative industries for the operatives that havnt found other work yet.
JCP is useless at this though of course
JCP is useless at this though of course
meld3
Member
Kicking the can down the road in the hope an election is called and Purdah kicks in....