ALSTOM signs Service contract with UK rail operator First
Great Western

The new fleet, which is being supplied entirely by ALSTOM,
consists of 14 5-car diesel multiple units from ALSTOM's CORADIA
line of suburban trains. For the Service contract, ALSTOM will
provide the management for the fleet's maintenance activities and
will also supply technical expertise to assure the trains'
efficiency and reliability. This contract became valid as of its
signing date, December 6, 2001, and will run until February 2006.

ALSTOM's operations team is already on-site at the
customer's Old Oak Common depot in North London, which serves as
the fleet's operational base and where all maintenance work will
be carried out.

This is the first Service contract that ALSTOM has received
for the Class 180 fleet in the UK.

The regional trains for FGW for are being assembled at
ALSTOM's 's industrial facilities in Birmingham, UK. Delivery
into commercial service begins in April 2002, with the final
train delivered in September 2002. Four trains are to be 'loaned'
to FGW (the first loan train is now with FGW), which will be
returned to the factory for modification and then returned for
final acceptance once the delivery schedule is in full swing.

Editors notes:

With more than 35 product lines and a presence in
over 60 countries, ALSTOM Transport offers cutting-edge products
and services to four distinct types of customers: urban transit
authorities and operators; intercity passenger rail operators and
rolling stock owners; rail freight operators; and intercity
railway infrastructure owners. Maintenance is a mainstay of
ALSTOMs services for all types of trains. ALSTOM
Transport, with 4.4 billion euros in sales, has a 17% market
share world-wide.

Press relations:
Ruth Pavans,

tel. +33 (0)1 41 66 97 16

ruth.pavans@transport.alstom.com

• Ti visit the First Great Western website