The Anonymous Widower

Northern Trains Plans Framework Contract For 450 Multiple-Units

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette.

This is the first paragraph.

Northern Trains has invited expressions of interest in a framework contract covering the supply of up to 450 multiple-units to replace ‘significant quantities of its ageing fleet’.

These are other details.

• Firm orders would be placed in phases.
• The initial order would be for ‘multi-mode’ multiple-units.
• Battery-electric or electric-only trains would be included in subsequent orders.
• Trains would have a minimum design life of 35 years from acceptance.
• The ability for the multi-mode units to be converted to electric or battery-electric power as part of an ‘in-life decarbonisation’ programme.

These four paragraphs outline the framework agreement between Northern Trains, the train manufacturer and the owners, who will finance the trains.

The framework agreement would run for eight years, with Northern able to order rolling stock in multiple phases.

Each phase would include a train manufacturing and supply agreement and a technical support and spares supply agreement.

The supplier would provide tools and spare parts, and there would be options for the supply of mock-ups and a cab simulator. Northern is to run a separate procurement for an owning party which would purchase each fleet and lease it to the operator.

The owner would be party to each manufacturing and supply agreement, and there may be different owning parties for each order phase.

This is a well-thought out proposal, that would be worth around a billion pounds to the train manufacturer.

It would probably be based around a family of trains like Alstom’s Aventra, CAF’s Civity or Stadler’s FLIRT.

For a series of orders of such a value, I think we will see some excellent proposals.

The deal will transform rail travel in the North.

I have some thoughts.

Which Trains Will Be Replaced?

Northern Trains fleet includes these ageing trains.

• Class 150/0 diesel trains – 6 x three-car – 18 cars
• Class 150/1 diesel trains – 46 x two-car – 92 cars
• Class 150/2 diesel trains – 26 x two-car – 52 cars
• Class 155 diesel trains – 7 x two-car – 14 cars
• Class 156 diesel trains – 65 x two-car – 130 cars
• Class 158/0 diesel trains – 45 x two-car – 90 cars
• Class 158/9 diesel trains – 8 x three-car – 24 cars
• Class 319 electric trains – 12 x four-car – 48 cars
• Class 323 electric trains – 34 x three-car – 102 cars
• Class 333 electric trains – 16 x four-car – 64 cars
• Class 769 bi-mode trains – 8 x four-car – 32 cars

Note.

1. These total to 273 trains and 661 cars.
2. If the 16 Class 170 trains, which are of three-cars, were also to be replaced. that would bring the total trains to be replaced to 289 trains and 709 cars.

I would expect the difference between 273-289 current trains and 450 trains in the article, is explained by new services and increased services on certain routes.

Which Trains Could Be Retained?

Northern Trains fleet includes these new trains.

• Class 195 diesel trains – 25 x two-cars – 50 cars
• Class 195 diesel trains – 33 x three-cars – 99 cars
• Class 331 electric trains – 31 x three-cars – 93 cars
• Class 331 electric trains – 12 x four-cars – 48 cars

Note.

1. These trains were all built by CAF in the last five years.
2. These total to 101 trains and 290 cars.

But if they have an expected life of 35 years, the diesels will have to be converted to zero-carbon trains.

Will The CAF Trains Be Retained?

Consider.

• If all the ageing trains and those not built by CAF were to be replaced then that would be 289 trains and 709 cars.
• If the nearly-new CAF trains were also to be replaced that would be 390 trains and 999 cars.
• Add in a few more trains for expanded services and you’re got the figure of 450 trains given in this article.
• If the CAF trains were to be replaced, then Northern Trains would have an homogenous fleet of new trains from one manufacturer, with all the advantages in operation and maintenance.

On the other hand, I haven’t read any bad criticism of these CAF trains, so I will assume that there is no pressing reason to replace them.

And of course Northern Trains could have an homogenous fleet of new CAF trains.

This is said in the article.

The supplier would provide tools and spare parts, and there would be options for the supply of mock-ups and a cab simulator.

As this is specifically mentioned, do Northern lack a simulator for driver training?

What About The Manchester Bee Network And Other Local Networks?

Will these networks want to take control of their local trains?

If there is an homogenous fleet of new trains from one manufacturer, then surely, it would be easier to give control of some routes to the local transport interests.

Training and driver rostering could be retained in what was left of Northern Trains.

Tram-Trains

Tram trains would be an added complication, but as the South Wales Metro is showing, tram-trains are an interesting way of expanding a network.

 

August 8, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Alstom, Aventra, Bee Network, CAF, Civity Train, Northern Trains, South Wales Metro, Stadler Flirt, Tram-Train