The expertise of consultants at international rail industry consultancy Interfleet Technology has been instrumental in the development of specifications for the first of a new generation of inter-urban EMU vehicles for Thameslink
Working in partnership with Arup, Interfleet provided the Department for Transport (DfT) with technical and business case advice in connection with the procurement of next generation rolling stock and associated maintenance facilities to deliver the Thameslink Programme.
The programme is a major element in the development and improvement of the London commuter network which will allow the operation of longer trains at a frequency of up to 24 trains per hour (tph) in each direction through central London.
The Thameslink Programme will provide a connection from the East Coast Main Line to St. Pancras Thameslink station and will expand the existing Thameslink network south of London to include additional routes and provide journey opportunities from Bedford, Peterborough and Cambridge to destinations in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
In order to deliver this enhanced capacity, the £3.5 billion infrastructure investment is accompanied by a significant procurement project to provide around 1,200 brand new vehicles. The Invitation to Tender for the vehicles, along with their lease package and through life maintenance, was launched in November 2008.
Interfleet's consultants, each with many years of practical experience in the sector, have bought their commercial and technical expertise to the project, helping the DfT to issue a technical specification for a train that will meet the arduous demands of the Thameslink service, as well as delivering many aspects of the Department's Technical Strategy.
Operating 24tph requires high performance and short station dwell times, whilst the DfT's technical strategy requires the new trains to be energy efficient and have a reduced infrastructure impact.
These requirements have been central in the development of the specification for the new vehicles, with Interfleet's expertise leading to the specification of the first of a new generation of inter-urban EMU vehicles for the UK.
Interfleet's UK Regional Director, Jonathan Wragg commented: "We have been able to assist the DfT with a number of work packages, including the preparation of a high-level rolling stock specification to support the OJEU notice; and detailed work to develop a performance specification to accompany the Invitation to Tender. Interfleet has also carried out detailed work with the DfT's commercial, legal and corporate finance teams to finalise draft contracts which accompany the ITT. We have also been retained to support the tender evaluation and contract negotiation process.
Ian Mylroi, Interfleet's project manager for the Thameslink Programme, added: "The work has also necessitated close liaison with Network Rail to ensure that a robust Train-Infrastructure Interface Specification could be prepared and strategic work with DfT to develop the procurement strategy and commercial proposition."
Ends.