UK: The national passenger operator Northern has started preliminary consultations to acquire 450 trains.
Alstom, Stadler, Hitachi Rail, Siemens Mobility, and CAF are invited to participate in the tender. All companies, except for Stadler, have production facilities in the UK. The contracts are to be signed with one or several bidders in 2026.
It is planned to supply EMUs, DEMUs, and BEMUs between 2030 and 2040. There should also be a possibility of replacing an engine with batteries within service life. Thus, Northern hopes to renew two-thirds of its fleet. Currently, 60% of its trains are from 32 to 40 years old.
Previously, the Railway Industry Association declared risks for the plants to be closed without new orders, insisting on adopting a long-term procurements strategy.