Bombardier Receives a $121-Million Order for the Supply
of Diesel Multiple Units for the United Kingdom
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--JUNE 10, 2002 - 12:29 EDT
Bombardier Transportation announced that it has
received an order for the provision of 45 Turbostar
diesel-multiple-unit cars (DMU) for Porterbrook Leasing Company
Ltd in the UK, part of Abbey National Treasury Services plc. The
total contract value is approximately $121 million Cdn (pounds
sterling 54 million) for vehicle manufacture, with deliveries of
the units commencing in the first quarter of 2003.
The order also includes an option worth up to $170 million Cdn
(pounds sterling 76 million) for an additional 63 cars,
potentially taking the total order up to 108 cars. The total
contract value could therefore rise to over $291 million Cdn
(pounds sterling 130 million) if the option is exercised
The Turbostar trains are being acquired by Porterbrook in
anticipation of the growing needs of the expanding railway in
Britain. The operators and vehicle destinations have therefore not
yet been confirmed.
Paul Francis, Managing Director for Porterbrook Leasing Ltd.,
said: "With the current and future changes in franchises in the UK
rail industry we are keen to be innovative in our approach to
supplying the future rolling stock needs of our customers. This
contract will allow us to offer the short lead times the Train
Operating companies have been looking for with DMU stock. The
Turbostar has already proved to be a very popular product with
operators and now, after much hard work by Bombardier and
ourselves, achieving reliability levels that make it amongst the
best of the DMUs operating in the UK. It is for these reasons that
we feel confident in agreeing terms for this future contract and
this initial batch of 45 new vehicles will take the Porterbrook
Turbostar fleet to over 300."
President of Bombardier Transportation, Intercity, Rik Dobbelaere,
commented: "This is extremely good news for Bombardier
Transportation, I am delighted that Porterbrook Leasing has once
again shown confidence in our Turbostar product. Turbostar trains
are currently in operation with no less than seven operators
across the UK."
The Turbostar units will be manufactured at Bombardier
Transportation's production facility in Derby, UK. The 160 km/h
(100 mph) trains will be of modern, stylish design and will be
fully air-conditioned. Modern passenger information systems will
keep on-board passengers informed of any train service alterations
and other journey information.
Bombardier has a major presence in the UK, employing close to
12,000 people across the country, of which 5,200 work for
Bombardier Transportation. As well as manufacturing capability at
the Derby and Wakefield sites, Bombardier Transportation has
refurbishment, maintenance and overhaul centres at Crewe, Central
Rivers, Chart Leacon, Ilford, Croydon and 13 other locations
throughout the UK.
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 rail control systems.
Bombardier Inc., a diversified manufacturing and services company,
is a world leading manufacturer of business jets, regional
aircraft, rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational
products. It also provides financial services and asset management
in business areas aligned with its core expertise. Headquartered
in Montreal, Canada, the Corporation has a workforce of some
80,000 people in 24 countries throughout the Americas, Europe and
Asia-Pacific. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2002
stood at $21.6 billion. Bombardier trades on the Toronto, Brussels
and Frankfurt stock exchanges (BBD, BOM and BBDd.F).
Editors Notes
Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited ("Porterbrook") is a leading
player in the UK rail leasing market. Porterbrook has a rolling
stock fleet of over 5,500 vehicles on lease or on order, which
includes about 4,000 passenger vehicles. These are supplied under
operating leases to 18 of the 25 train operating companies (TOCs)
within the UK. The company also provides ongoing train and tram
maintenance services. Porterbrook has been highly successful in
winning new train orders since privatisation, with over pounds
sterling 1.3 billion in new business won - investing in over 1,350
new passenger vehicles and 1,100 new freight locomotives and
wagons, and in the refurbishment of much of its in-fleet
equipment. In April 2000 the Porterbrook group of companies was
acquired by Abbey National Treasury Services plc, part of Abbey
National Group. |
