Alstom, a global leader in intelligent and sustainable mobility, has announced the signing of a new four-and-a-half-year Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA) with South Western Railway (SWR) in the UK, marking a significant milestone. this £66 million (€76 million) contract aims to support the operation and performance of SWR’s fleet of Class 701 Arterio trains.
24/7 Technical Expertise and Predictive Maintenance
The agreement will provide 24/7 technical support for a total of 750 Aventra vehicles (60 ten-carriage and 30 five-carriage) operated on suburban routes from London Waterloo. Alstom will manage this support from two main locations, SWR’s Wimbledon Traincare Depot and Network Rail’s Basingstoke Rail Operations Centre (ROC), with a team of around 40 experts.
Steven Harvey, Service Director for Alstom UK & Ireland, said the agreement represents an important milestone in their long-standing partnership. “We are proud to continue to support the Arterio fleet with our technical expertise and predictive maintenance capabilities. Our dedicated team is committed to ensuring that these Alstom-built trains deliver the highest standards of performance and reliability to fare-paying passengers across London and the South West of England,” said Mr D’Alstom.
Spare Parts Procurement and Data Analytics Driven Improvement
The new contract is a continuation of the successful cooperation between Alstom and SWR over the last eight years and the strong working relationship established since 2017. Under the agreement, Alstom will also supply heavy and light maintenance spare parts to ensure the fleet remains in optimum condition.
In addition, a dedicated team of five engineers will focus on collecting and analysing data from trains in service. This data-driven approach will enable the implementation of predictive maintenance strategies and performance improvements in the maintenance of the fleet.
Arterio Fleet and the Importance of UK Production
The Arterio fleet represents a significant innovation for SWR customers, offering improved comfort, reliability and efficiency. The trains have been designed, developed, built and tested at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Works in Derby. The name Arterio reflects the routes from the capital along the main arteries of the SWR’s suburban network.
“The new Class 701 fleet is already making a real difference to passengers. We are delighted that Alstom, our long-term partner, will continue to maintain the trains and provide an excellent service to passengers,” said Mr Klaus.
Since 2015, Alstom has built 2,660 wagons in Derby for customers across the UK as part of the Aventra family of trains, making it the largest train production programme for a generation. As a market leader in railway services, Alstom maintains more than 35,500 vehicles worldwide and acts as a trusted partner in servicing both its own and external rolling stock.
