Bombardier Signs a Contract Worth up to $962 Million for
the Supply of Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit Cars for the
United Kingdom
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--FEBRUARY 14, 2002 - 10:02 EST
Bombardier Transportation announced that it has
been awarded a contract for the provision of 127 diesel-electric
multiple unit cars for HSBC Rail UK Limited, to be operated by the
UK's Midland Mainline. The value of the contract, which also
includes an initial four-year maintenance portion, is worth
approximately $512 million Cdn (225 million pounds sterling),
rising to a potential $962 million Cdn (423 million pounds
sterling) if the maintenance portion is extended to its maximum of
15 years' duration. Deliveries of the units will commence in the
second quarter of 2004, with the total 127 cars delivered by
January 2005.
The 200 km/h units will be operated by Midland Mainline for use on
their routes from Sheffield, via Derby and Nottingham, to London.
Midland Mainline is owned by National Express Group, a global rail
and bus operator. Financing for the contract is being provided by
HSBC Rail (UK) Limited, part of HSBC Group, who will lease the
trains to Midland Mainline.
President of Bombardier Transportation, Intercity, Rik Dobbelaere,
commented: "This is extremely good news for Bombardier
Transportation and I am delighted that HSBC, National Express
Group and Midland Mainline have shown confidence in selecting
Bombardier Transportation for this contract. We have a
particularly good track record of delivering this type of product
on time and to the highest quality."
The diesel-electric multiple units, which are based on
Bombardier's highly successful, proven design, will be
manufactured at Wakefield, UK and Bruges, Belgium. Bombardier's
Central Rivers maintenance facility in the UK will also play a
major part in the maintenance of the trains.
Bombardier Transportation is the global leader in the rail
equipment, manufacturing and servicing industry. Its wide range of
products includes passenger rail cars and complete rail
transportation systems. It also manufactures locomotives, freight
cars, propulsion & controls and provides signaling equipment and
systems.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and service company,
is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional
aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational
products. It is also a provider of financial services and asset
management. The Corporation employs 79,000 people in 24 countries
in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific and its revenues for its
fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled $16.1 billion Cdn. |
