Bombardier considers putting diesel back on its prospectus

Bombardier could once again build diesel multiple units (DMUs) at its Derby Litchurch Lane facility, and is also actively considering adding bi-mode trains to its portfolio.

The manufacturer last built DMUs in 2010, for London Midland. At the time it was believed DMUs were no longer an option for the UK market, with other manufacturers also pulling out.

Instead, it concentrated on completing a 192-train S-Stock order for London Underground, and building electric multiple units.

However, Bombardier Commercial Director Des McKeon told RAIL: “We believe diesel is a requirement again, both low-speed DMUs and low-speed and medium speed DEMUs [diesel electric multiple units], and high-speed DEMUs.”

With the train operating companies as Bombardier’s primary market, McKeon added that options for the new trains included the new East Midlands, CrossCountry and Wales franchises.

He said that the bi-mode option came from constantly reviewing its products. Bombardier is building its final Electrostars (the first was delivered in 1999), and has started delivering the first Aventra EMUs.

When the LM Class 172s were delivered, Government had indicated that electrification was the future, and as such rolling stock leasing companies and manufacturers began to look at building EMUs. Since then, Spanish firm Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) has won an order for 55 DMUs with Northern, bi-mode trains have been ordered by the Government for Great Western Railway and Virgin Trains East Coast, and Greater Anglia, Hull Trains and TransPennine Express also all have bi-mode trains on order. GWR also ordered its own bi-mode fleet.

McKeon said work is under way on developing the bi-mode trains. While unable to confirm the full plans, he said it would largely adopt the design from the Aventra high-speed EMU option.

He added that Derby Litchurch Lane was currently operating at 60% of its peak, confirming that construction of the Electrostars finishes in the summer, and that construction of the 665 vehicles for Greater Anglia begins this year.

Bombardier already constructs bi-mode trains globally.