STUNNING VISUALS OF EXPRESS RAIL ALLIANCE'S HIGH SPEED TRAINS PROPOSED FOR THE INTERCITY EXPRESS PROGRAMME FEATURE ON A NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED TODAY.
9 October 2008
Stunning visuals of Express Rail Alliance's high speed trains proposed for the InterCity Express programme feature on a new website launched today. The innovative computer generated designs show how the high speed fleet might look once the InterCity Express programme tender is awarded.
Express Rail Alliance spokesperson, Colin S Walton, said, "We are delighted to be launching our website which gives a great insight to the innovative train designs. ERA's tender offers a deliverable, reliable and sustainable solution for the next generation of UK high speed rail travel."
The site provides a great point of reference for passengers, the rail industry and the general public featuring details of the combined experience of Bombardier and Siemens, two of the world’s leading train manufacturers, both highly regarded in the UK and European rail industry with the delivery of almost 4,000 cars to the UK market alone in recent years."
Bombardier and Siemens have an unrivalled track record in the delivery and whole life service of long distance contracts in the United Kingdom."
The ERA consortium also combines Angel Trains' extensive experience of financing and project managing new-build trains and leasing within the UK rail market and Babcock & Brown's expertise in the structuring and delivery of PFI and PPP type procurement projects.
IEP has been established by government for the procurement of a fleet of between 500 and 2,000 train cars to replace the existing UK HST fleet, to be provided for approximately 30 years under an availability and reliability agreement to future passenger rail franchisees. IEP is one of the largest PPP projects in the world and ERA's proposal is deliverable, not only in terms of manufacturing and services but importantly from a financial point of view. Visit the ERA website at http://www.expressrailalliance.co.uk/
ENDS
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About Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation has its global headquarters in Berlin, Germany with a presence in over 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide. The Group offers the broadest product portfolio and is recognized as the leader in the global rail sector.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2007, were $14.8 billion US, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
About Siemens in the UK:
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 165 years ago. The company employs 20,387 people in the UK, including about 6,000 in the manufacturing sector. Last year’s revenues were £3.6 billion, including exports of £873 million, and it spent almost £70 million on research and development. As a leading global engineering company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key industrial sectors of energy, industry and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
As part of Siemens in the UK, Siemens Transportation Systems employs around 1000 people in the UK, providing expertise in rail systems and technology to the UK rail industry. With proven capability in rail infrastructure Siemens Transportation Systems has recently delivered a major re-signaling project in the Portsmouth areas, traction power upgrades across the UK and new telecommunications systems in London and the west of England. It is also developing the GSM-R cab radio solution for the entire UK rolling stock fleet at the Mobile Communication’s site in Poole, Dorset.
In rolling stock, Siemens provides and maintains passenger trains for First TransPennine Express, South West Trains, Heathrow Express, One Great Eastern, Northern Trains and London Midland. For more information on Siemens Transportation Systems please visit www.siemenstransportation.co.uk
Siemens Project Ventures GmbH (SPV):
SPV is a fully owned subsidiary of Siemens Financial Services GmbH (itself a fully owned subsidiary of Siemens AG) and invests equity in infrastructure projects worldwide. SPV’s investments focus on the transportation (rail, airports), energy, and healthcare sectors. SPV currently participates in seven different projects with a total project volume of about USD 4 billion. For more information visit www.siemens.com/project-ventures
About Babcock & Brown
Babcock & Brown is an international investment and specialised fund and asset management group with longstanding capabilities in structured finance and the creation, syndication and management of asset and cash flow-based investments. Babcock & Brown was founded in 1977 and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Babcock & Brown operates from 32 offices across Australia, North America, Europe, Asia, United Arab Emirates and Africa and has in excess of 1,400 employees worldwide. Babcock & Brown has four operating divisions including real estate, infrastructure, operating leasing, corporate and structured finance.
The company has established a funds management platform across the operating divisions that has resulted in the creation of a number of focused investment vehicles in areas including real estate, renewable energy and infrastructure. For further information about Babcock & Brown please see our website: www.babcockbrown.com
About Angel Trains Ltd
Angel Trains Ltd is a leading lessor of railway rolling stock in the UK and has over ten years' experience in financing and procuring new-build trains. It has invested nearly £3 billion in both new trains and the refurbishment of existing trains and is one of the largest private sector investors in the UK rail industry.
Some of its key deals include the £708 million purchase of 350 Class 390 Pendolino vehicles for Virgin Trains and £488 million investment in 508 Class 450 Desiro vehicles for South West Trains.