Could Derby build Euro startup fleet of trains?

[RobShipway]

There seems to be a few possible startup companies wanting to provide services between London - Amsterdam or London - Paris in competition with Eurostar as per https://www.railwaygazette.com/star...aris-high-speed-train-ambitions/65345.article

If these startups, got permissions within the next 12 months, could if the trains are ordered through Alstom be built in Derby?

 

[JonathanH]

If these startups, got permissions within the next 12 months, could if the trains are ordered through Alstom be built in Derby?

It would seem unlikely if Derby isn't set up to build that sort of train. Derby currently constructs a particular type of train in a particular manner - eg using aluminium panels. Doing something different would involve a different set up, which wouldn't be practical for small orders, when other factories are already set up.

A start up would want an off-the-shelf design, and as nice as Derby's products may be, they aren't the stuff of Channel Tunnel operations.

 

[stuu]

There seems to be a few possible startup companies wanting to provide services between London - Amsterdam or London - Paris in competition with Eurostar as per https://www.railwaygazette.com/star...aris-high-speed-train-ambitions/65345.article

If these startups, got permissions within the next 12 months, could if the trains are ordered through Alstom be built in Derby?

Extremely unlikely. Alstom have an existing production line with no doubt a complex supply chain in place already for their high speed trains. Changing that for a small order wouldn't be cheap

 

[Snow1964]

Not really, all the proposed high speed operators use standard designs already being built elsewhere.

Thats not to say in theory Derby couldn't produce some components, but reality is these days they tend to be bought from other suppliers, and the factory is more an assembly site than a manufacturer of the parts too

 

[Bartsimho]

If and it's a big if.

Alstom decide they don't have enough orders and try to pull out of the market.
Would a Labour run GBR think about taking it on citing protecting jobs and entering that market?

 

[Energy]

If and it's a big if.

Alstom decide they don't have enough orders and try to pull out of the market.
Would a Labour run GBR think about taking it on citing protecting jobs and entering that market?

Unlikely, both Labour and the current government would meet Alstom about the future of the plant. The best case for it is tram, people mover and monorail production for Alstom UK and internationally. These vehicles already have to move by road so the UK restrictive loading gauge wouldn't be an issue for exports.

Ideally Derby would take on more parts production, its been little more than an assembly site in later years with major parts like traction being handled elsewhere.

 

[HSTEd]

The more likely outcome would be that Alstom would use the threat of an embarassing plant closure to force the British government to place orders with the plant for trains the Government doesn't really want to buy.