MIND THE (SIX-YEAR) GAP

BACK in 2016 London Underground (LU) released a tender for a fleet of maintenance wagons to replace its existing, ageing, fleet. A contract was eventually awarded to Chinese manufacturer CRRC for 71 wagons – 66 flat wagons and five open box wagons in 2017, down from an original requirement for 86 wagons.

The new fleet – CRRC’s first UK order – was due to be in service in 2019. However, the Shandong-based company only shipped the first wagons to the UK in 2020, and these were prototypes for testing: box wagons (UIC type code Eals) Nos. BW001/002 and flat wagons Nos. FW001/002. After two years in the UK, the results of the tests have yet to be made public.

The four wagons were resident this summer at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway for mileage accumulation tests. However, the contract between LU and CRRC was originally due to expire in April this year. London Underground has told Rail Express that as it is still in commercial negotiations regarding these wagons, “it would not be appropriate to answer questions about them or the contract”. Despite media speculation that the remaining 67 wagons will be delivered to the UK in 2023, it is currently unclear whether the vehicles will be accepted by LU, what will happen to the vehicles already in the UK, and how an alternative fleet would be procured, should the CRRC contract fall through.