Alstom has signed an eight-year Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA) with Great Western Railway (GWR). The contract, valued at approximately £75 million, will see Alstom assist with the reintroduction of 26 Class 175 trains into service across South West England.
The agreement will see Alstom provide ongoing maintenance support from GWR’s Laira depot in Plymouth, sustaining more than 15 roles as well as many more within Alstom’s wider supply chain.
The Class 175s, owned by Angel Trains, were built by Alstom in Birmingham between 1999 and 2001 and were previously operated by Transport for Wales. GWR signed a lease for the fleet in March of this year. The first trains are expected to enter passenger service later in the year, following recommissioning and driver training. They will primarily operate on key regional routes, including services between Exeter St Davids, Penzance, Barnstaple, and Okehampton.
Peter Broadley, Commercial Director at Alstom, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Great Western Railway and Angel Trains to bring the Class 175 fleet back into service. With our extensive expertise as the original manufacturer and long-standing maintainer of these trains, we are well placed to ensure their smooth reintroduction and continued reliability.”
The reintroduction of the Class 175s is expected to provide a significant boost to GWR’s fleet, allowing for the removal of some of its oldest and least efficient diesel trains. The Class 175s can be connected in four, five, and six-car formations, improving reliability, efficiency, and passenger comfort while supporting GWR’s plans to rejuvenate its regional services.
Dr Simon Green, Engineering Director for Great Western Railway, said: “We are really pleased to be able to reach agreement with Alstom to support this major investment in our train fleet. The Class 175 are a welcome addition to the GWR train fleet and will provide a tangible boost as we seek to rejuvenate our regional and suburban services.”
The Class 175 trains will also be the first GWR fleet to utilise Alstom’s HealthHub digital solution, a system that provides condition-based and predictive maintenance. The system sends data on more than 200 parameters every 30 seconds, allowing for real-time monitoring to prevent potential incidents before they impact passenger service.
David Jordan, Chief Operating Officer at Angel Trains, said: “We’re pleased to support Great Western Railway as they work to further improve the passenger experience. In partnership with GWR and Alstom, the reintroduction of the Class 175 fleet will provide additional capacity and improved reliability that will benefit customers across the network.”
Photo credit: Great Western Railway
