The East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has confirmed its intention to begin a formal rolling stock procurement process in August.
RAIL can reveal that an Invitation to Tender (ITT) will be issued to supply 11 three-car self-propelled units for services due to commence in 2024 between Oxford, Bedford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes.
It follows the conclusion of a rolling stock market engagement exercise that had been under way since November 2018, which involved workshops and meetings with manufacturers, suppliers and rolling stock operating companies (ROSCOs) from across the market.
EWR Co Chief Executive Simon Blanchflower said: “Reactions from the rolling stock market have been extremely positive. We’ve taken a purposeful approach to procurement, using this engagement period to effectively de-risk the project by working with the market to understand what’s available to meet our entry into service requirements, before defining our specifications. Thank you to anyone who has engaged with this process so far - your input has been invaluable.”
EWR Co was established in 2017 to oversee and accelerate the delivery of the East West Rail scheme to restore a direct rail link between Oxford and Cambridge (closed as a through route in 1967).
The line is being reopened in stages, with services running from Oxford to Bedford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury from 2024, and along the full route to Cambridge some three to four years later.
- For the FULL story, read RAIL 883, published on July 17, and available digitally on Android, iPad and Kindle from July 13.
Comment as guest
Comments
Nova 3 - 12/07/2019 10:03
Class 185?
Reply as guest
AndrewJG8918 - 14/07/2019 00:01
Perhaps Class 170 or Class 185 could be operated on the East-West Rail line rather than ordering new rolling stocks.
Reply as guest
James Miller - 15/07/2019 08:16
I have read the Eastern Section Prospectus from the East West Rail Consortium. They are proposing two long-distance services between Reading and Great Yarmouth and Oxford and Manningtree, as the long-term service. These services would need at least four-coach trains with a proper buffet and a full service with a couple of spares would probably be a fleet of around sixteen trains. I also suspect that by 2024, the core services could be run by battery-electric trains or perhaps Bombardier's proposed 125 mph bi-mode Aventra with batteries.
Reply as guest
AndrewJG8918 - 28/07/2019 00:26
Class 185 Desiro DMU's could be suitable for the East-West Rail line. Or maybe Class 170s Turbostar's could be ideal.
Reply as guest