DfT awards Siemens £1.6bn Thameslink contract

Date: 14/6/2013

The Thameslink project took another step closer to completion today (June 14th) as the (DfT) Department for Transport announced it has awarded Siemens a £1.6 billion contract to build 1,140 new carriages for the network.

With plans to increase capacity and reliability, the initiative will also see passengers benefit from the creation of a Crossrail interchange at Farringdon as part of attempts to improve transport options in the capital.

The news comes following a warning from the National Audit Office that suggested the scheme was not on course to be completed in time for 2018 - the year in which it is scheduled to become operational.

But with the contract having now been finalised and Siemens charged with manufacturing the carriages needed to improve the network, a DfT spokesperson said they are "confident" the project will be delivered as expected.

A total of £6 billion has been spent on upgrading the Thameslink railway, which is one of the busiest in Europe.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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