Bombardier wins US$213M U.K. train maintenance contract

MONTREAL—Rail technology company Bombardier Transportation has signed a US$213 million contract with National Express Group to provide maintenance for the new Essex Thameside franchise.

This new franchise was recently awarded to National Express Group by the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT). The contract, which is for a ten-year period with the option to extend another 5 years, covers maintenance and spare parts on 74 four-car Class 357 ELECTROSTAR trains.

The new contract contains an performance regime and incorporates Bombardier’s Automatic Vehicle Inspection System (AVI System).

Already in use at Bombardier’s Central Rivers (UK) and Gautrain Rail (South Africa) service depots, the AVI System is an integrated technology that uses a range of cameras and sensors to analyse and monitor a vehicle’s condition. Housed in a dedicated structure around and under the tracks, the AVI System helps operators lower costs by reducing component usage and maintenance interventions while increasing asset utilization.

This system also automatically generates maintenance work orders, provides advanced notification of component wear and even triggers safety alerts—all without the intervention of inspection technicians.