Eversholt Rail awards Alstom with contract to overhaul Scottish suburban trains

Eversholt Rail has awarded Alstom a two year contract worth £36.1 million to improve the passenger environment and reliability of the 40 First ScotRail Class 334 trains that run between Airdrie and Bathgate.

The work is due to start in early 2015 and will deliver significant improvements for the benefit of passengers.  Alstoms Modernisation team in Preston will lead the work, with the Glasgow Traincare Centre in Polmadie removing and refitting the components, supported by Manchester Traincare Centre.  Some of the works being undertaken as part of this contract are:

    Time-based overhaul
    Overhaul and reliability works on saloon and cab doors
    Fitting full passenger saloon heating, ventilation and air conditioning
    Installation of 230v at seat sockets
    Preparing carriages for future WiFi, by installing an Ethernet backbone
    New Drivers Only operation CCTV system.

Mary Kenny, Chief Executive Officer of Eversholt Rail said We are pleased to be working with Alstom on this contract. This investment of £36.1m in our Class 334 is our third fleet upgrade for Scotland and once again demonstrates the importance of Scotland to our business, and our commitment to delivering the best value and highest quality proposition to our customers and rail passengers.

Terence Watson, President of Alstom UK and Managing Director of Alstom Transport UK, said: Were delighted to be working with Eversholt Rail again on the Class 334s, which we built at the start of the new millennium. Im sure that passengers will see some very real differences in terms of comfort and reliability, as well as offering the owners an easily upgradeable system to help future proof the trains.

Notes to editors:

About Eversholt Rail Group
Eversholt Rail Group owns approximately one third of the UKs stock of passenger trains some 3,500 vehicles and more than 1,000 freight wagons and locomotives.  Over the past two decades, it has invested more than £2bn in rolling stock and today is a supplier to many of the UKs leading Train Operating Companies.  Eversholt Rail Group is wholly owned by Eversholt Investment Group, which is owned by a consortium consisting of investment funds managed by 3i Infrastructure plc, a Jersey-incorporated, closed-ended investment company, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, a leading infrastructure investment platform, and STAR Capital Partners, an independent investment fund manager.

Websites:  www.eversholtrail.co.uk and www.eversholtrail-innovations.co.uk

Media contact:
Wendy Filer, Marketing and Business Support Manager, Eversholt Rail Group
Tel  0207 380 5057 or wendy.filer@eversholtrail.co.uk

About Alstom Transport
A promoter of sustainable mobility, Alstom Transport develops and markets the most complete range of systems, equipment and services in the railway sector. Alstom Transport manages entire transport systems, including rolling stock, signalling, maintenance and modernisation, infrastructure and offers integrated solutions. Alstom Transport recorded sales of 5.9 billion in the fiscal year 2013/14. Alstom Transport is present in over 60 countries and employs around 28,300 people.

Press contact
Jonathan Smith, Head of Media Relations, Alstom UK Tel 01788 545602 or 07801 775650 or jonathan.smith@alstom.com

Website: www.alstom.com/uk

Twitter: @AlstomUK