Five manufacturers invited to bid for Northern Trains fleet renewal contracts

UK: Northern Trains has invited five manufacturers to negotiate for framework contracts to supply up to 450 new electric and electro-diesel bi-mode multiple-units.

The manufacturers named on January 17 are Alstom, CAF, Hitachi, Siemens Mobility and Stadler.

Northern is seeking both 25 kV 50 Hz electric-only and bi-mode electro-diesel multiple-units, and it has also asked potential manufacturers to include battery trains as part of their proposals. The electro-diesel units would be capable of conversion to battery or electric-only operation during their lifetime, in line with the government’s net-zero objectives.

Northern Managing Director Tricia Williams said this ‘cements el…