Written evidence from Siemens Mobility

Executive Summary

Through its work on the Thameslink Programme – involving both the provision of new state- of-the-art rolling stock and modernised signalling – Siemens is helping deliver significant benefits to passengers, including through providing additional capacity, more spacious and accessible trains and an increased frequency of through-trains.

Siemens has been working hard over recent months, in partnership with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), to increase the rate of acceptances of the new Class 700 trains onto Thameslink. Currently, two new trains per week are being accepted.

We are pleased that the recent National Audit Office (NAO) report into the Thameslink Programme acknowledges that, if current progress continues, the level of acceptances would have caught up to the original schedule in December 2017.

We are also pleased that the NAO report acknowledges that the rationale for the decision taken by the Department for Transport in October 2017 to delay the introduction of the new, 24 trains per hour timetable for Thameslink from December 2018 to December 2019, has no bearing on the new Class 700 trains or the new signalling system being delivered by Siemens to run on the route.

Siemens’ invol vement in t he T ham eslink Programm e

Siemens is in the process of providing 115 state-of-the-art Class 700 trains for Thameslink, the first of which entered passenger service in June 2016.

These new trains provide significant benefits for passengers, including much needed extra capacity through the creation of 1,000 extra standard class seats, as well as:

• More spacious walkways between carriages and additional luggage space
• Electronic signs showing which carriages have more space to sit or stand, and screens with real time service information
• Fully accessible toilets for disabled passengers and those with pushchairs or needing baby changing facilities
• Spaces for full-sized bikes in the off-peak; storage for fold-up bikes in the peak

Siemens is also delivering Thameslink’s signalling programme over multiple phases to May 2018. Based on Siemens’ signalling technology, the complex and technically challenging project will deliver a UK ‘first’, with a European Rail Traffic Management System train protection system operating with Automatic Train Operation.

This work will provide streamlined traffic flows, an increased frequency of through-trains and so significantly increased capacity, and support the delivery of 24 trains per hour through the core section by the end of 2019.

Response to issues raised in inquiry

Our submission addresses two issues discussed in the recent National Audit Office report into the Thameslink Programme, published on 23 November 2017. These are:

• The timetable for acceptances of the Class 700 trains onto Thameslink
• The introduction of the 24 trains per hour timetable on Thameslink from December 2019

Timetable for acceptances of the Class 700 trains onto Thameslink

The recent National Audit Office report into the Thameslink Programme notes that there was a delay in the Siemens Class 700 trains being accepted by GTR.

Whilst we acknowledge that there were teething troubles causing this initial delay, we can confirm that these issues have now been rectified.

Siemens has been working hard, in partnership with GTR, to increase the level of acceptances over recent months, and there are currently two new Class 700s per week being accepted.

We are pleased that the NAO acknowledges that, if current progress continues, “acceptance will have caught up to the original schedule in December 2017.”

This means that even more passengers will be able to take advantage of the significant benefits offered by the Class 700s, including real-time travel information, more spacious walkways and additional luggage space.

2018 will see the arrival of further benefits for Thameslink passengers. The delivery of new signalling by Siemens on the route will help provide a more frequent train service, and the acceptance of the complete fleet of 115 Class 700 trains in June, delivering more services at the busiest times, will boost capacity on the route when it is needed most.

We remain committed to the successful outcome of the Thameslink Programme and working with the many stakeholders across the industry in delivering a successful and reliable train service.

Introduction of the 24 trains per hour timetable

The NAO report provides further information relating to the decision by the Department for Transport in October 2017 to delay the introduction of the new, 24 trains per hour timetable on Thameslink from December 2018 to December 2019.

The report also makes clear (see 3.21 to 3.23, p.28) that the rationale for making this decision has no bearing on the delivery of the new Class 700 trains by Siemens to run on the Thameslink route, the last of which is due to be accepted by GTR in June 2018 as planned.

About Siemens Mobility in the UK

Siemens has a strong presence in the UK, having been in operation here for over 170 years. In the past year, we have continued to grow and currently directly employ around 15,000 people across the UK, including 4,300 in our transport businesses, with 14 manufacturing sites and multiple other facilities country-wide. We are committed to our investment in the UK and particularly the communities in which we operate, with Siemens UK spending £1.8 billion with suppliers across the country.

Siemens Mobility’s four UK business units are:

• Rail Systems, which delivers, upgrades and maintains trains, including Eurostar’s new e320 train, currently the fastest high-speed train in service in the UK, and state-of-the- art Class 700 trains for the Thameslink rail line
• Rail Automation, which delivers rail signalling systems, including the recent re- signalling of the Victoria Line, which since May has been delivering a train every 100 seconds in peak times – a world class 36 trains per hour
• Rail Electrification provides rail electrification equipment for both mainline and mass transit applications. Siemens is at the heart of a number of major programmes, including the East Coast Main Line Power Supply Upgrade Project. On completion in 2019, the programme will provide increased power to the railway, enabling the introduction of the new IEP trains, as well as the new Thameslink trains at the southern end of the route
• Intelligent Traffic Systems, which provides total road traffic solutions, including the technology which operates half of the UK’s traffic junctions and London’s Congestion Charging and Low Emission Zones