Southeastern

has
shortlisted
five
train
builders
as
it
begins
planning
a
new
or
upgraded
fleet
for
its
Metro
services.
They
are
currently
operated
by
Class
465
Networkers
built
between
1991
and
1994
for
British
Rail.

The
named
suppliers
are
Alstom,
CAF,
Hitachi,
Siemens
and
Stadler.
Both
Alstom
at
Derby
and
Hitachi
in
County
Durham
have
been
on
the
danger
list
in
recent
months,
because
of
a
shortage
of
new
orders.

Rail
minister
Huw
Merriman
wrote
to
the
industry
at
the
end
of
January,
in
which
he
set
out
potential
rolling
stock
upgrades
at
several
operators,
including
nationalised
Southeastern,
Northern
and
TransPennine
Express.

Most
contracts
were
not
expected
until
2025,
but
Southeastern
was
mentioned
as
a
possible
front
runner,
with
a
contract
possibly
awarded
in
December
this
year.

Southeastern’s
Class
465s
provide
Metro
services
which
link
several
London
termini
with
south-east
London
and
parts
of
Kent,
including
Dartford,
Sevenoaks,
Grove
Park
and
Gillingham.

There
are
said
to
be
several
options,
including
new
trains,
cascades
or
refurbishing
the
current
fleet.

Various
improvements
include
making
trains
more
accessible,
providing
brighter
and
more
spacious
interiors,
air
conditioning,
improved
information,
greater
reliability
and
the
introduction
of
batteries
to
provide
emergency
traction
and
also
for
possible
use
within
depots.

Huw
Merriman
said:
‘This
is
great
news
for
the
rail
manufacturing
industry
and
forms
part
of
an
estimated
£3.6
billion
to
support
the
sector
in
the
coming
years.

‘This
Government
continues
to
back
rail
manufacturers
and
today’s
announcement
demonstrates
the
UK
market
is
a
strong
one,
supporting
high
skilled
jobs
and
boosting
the
economy
right
across
the
country.’

Southeastern
added
that
it
is
‘too
early’
to
confirm
specific
designs
or
principles.