Train firm orders new carriages

RAIL operator Southern has placed a £188.8 million order with train manufacturer Bombardier to supply it with 130 new Electrostar carriages to provide more passenger capacity.

The order from the Croydon-based company is being hailed as a boost to Bombardier's Derby operations.

A total of 1,400 jobs were put at risk earlier this year when the Government ordered trains from German company Siemens for expanded Thameslink services.

The order will augment Southern's existing fleet of Electrostars and allow the lengthening of trains on some of its busiest Metro routes into Victoria, including services via Norbury and Hackbridge at the end of 2013.

Production of the new carriages will start in the latter half of 2012.

Southern opened the competition to build the new trains in September, when it became apparent that the trains it had leased to First Capital Connect for the Thameslink programme would not be returned in time for Southern to fulfil its capacity commitments.

Chris Burchell, Southern's managing director, said: "Following a competitive tender process, we found that the Bombardier bid could meet our challenging delivery timetable, was affordable and also offered compatibility with our existing fleet."