Spanish firm CAF has been confirmed as the preferred bidder to supply 77 new diesel multiple units for the KeolisAmey Welsh franchise that starts in October.
Negotiations regarding financing the trains continue, but it has been confirmed that 44 two-car and 26 three-car DMUs will be in traffic by September 2022, with seven two-car DMUs delivered two years later.
They are based on the Civity platform, and will be assembled at the company’s Celtic Business Park in Newport, south Wales.
Colin Lea, Mobilisation Director, KeolisAmey Wales Cymru told RAIL that the first route to receive the trains will be Manchester-Cardiff, which will release the Class 175 DMUs to be sent off-lease.
Richard Garner, CAF UK Director said: "We are delighted to have been selected by KeolisAmey as the preferred bidder to supply trains for the Wales and Borders rail franchise. Our high-quality, reliable and comfortable trains will enhance customer experience across this important rail network."
Lea added: “We would like to thank CAF for working collaboratively with us to design trains, which, in line with KeolisAmey values, put the passenger needs at their heart, with state-of-the-art passenger features, ample legroom, and seats aligned with windows to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the routes they will serve.
Wales Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: “CAF’s success as the preferred bidder to supply these diesel multiple units really is great news and will mean that that the majority of the new trains running in our transformed rail service will genuinely be ‘Made in Wales’ with the economic benefits of their production being retained and enjoyed locally.”
The factory will create 300 new jobs and boost the wider UK rail industry supply chain as the company plans to develop a 'cluster' of local and national companies to supply components for the manufacture of its trains.
- For the FULL story on the new Welsh franchise, read RAIL 855, published on June 20, and available digitally on Android/iPad from June 16.
- For an EXCLUSIVE interview with Colin Lea, Mobilisation Director, KeolisAmey Wales Cymru, read RAIL 855, published on June 20, and available digitally on Android/iPad from June 16.
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AndrewJG8918 - 15/06/2018 02:31
CAF to manufacture new trains as new jobs will be created is good news in Wales and the whole of the UK. Wales does need new trains being built locally and to continue to progress with new trains to be used elsewhere in the UK.
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