Alstom-Bombardier merger confirmed
Derby's train factory has a new owner after Bombardier sells its global transport division.
THE French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has become the owner of the historic Derby Carriage Works following the completion of its acquisition from Bombardier Transportation on
January 29, writes Industry Witness.
The site will become part of a panEuropean enterprise that is best known for the construction of TGV trainsets for the high-speed network in France, and the customary assurances have been given that production will not be threatened by the take-over.
The purchase occurred after the European competition authorities rejected the idea of a tie-up between Alstom and Siemens, which it was felt would remove future competition for the provision of high-speed rolling stock of the type built for TGV services in France.
The Derby works has a long history. The Midland Railway decided to create a new carriage and wagon workshop there in 1873, and a part of the site came into operation in
1876 when the first coaches were constructed. By the end of the 19th century, the plant was producing eight new passenger carriages a week and 180 new wagons.
The facility was self-sufficient in that it was equipped with iron and brass foundries, and heavy forges, drop stamps and a capability for nut and bolt manufacture, wheel machining and assembly, and spring manufacture. A large lifting and erecting shop was built in 1908, with electric power provided by a companyowned power station.
Ownership passed to the LMS in 1923, and many innovations subsequently took place – including the introduction of electric arc welding. This allowed all-welded steel vehicles to be built, including electric units built for Southport services.
After nationalisation in 1948, at which time 5127 staff were employed, this expertise led to the design and construction of the British Railways Mk.1 standard coaches, and the beautifully built Derby Lightweight diesel units constructed of aluminium.
NO CHANGES?
The modern-day facility cannot be described as the manufacturing factory that BR inherited, as it has become an assembly plant using components provided by external suppliers. Its future workload is dependent on successful competitive tendering, as many vehicles built recently for operations in Britain have been imported or built by the likes of Hitachi at new UK assembly facilities.
Current production is to meet orders for EMUs based on the
‘Aventra' platform, which allows operating companies to specify different variants of the generic type. Such vehicles have been supplied to Crossrail (Class 345), London Overground (Class 710), Greater Anglia and c2c (Class 720), South Western Railway (Class 701) and West Midlands Trains (Class 730).