The British railway operator Stagecoach Group, the leasing company Angel Trains and the Siemens Transportation Systems (TS) Group today have publicly introduced the first Desiro UK at the Siemens test center for rail-based transportation systems in Wegberg-Wildenrath. The vehicles are to run on the network of South West Trains, a Stagecoach Group affiliate, southwest of London. The roll-out took place one year to the day after the contract was signed. TS will deliver 1200 units of the modular regional trainset concept Desiro to Great Britain. Worth a total of approximately € 2.5 billion (option included), it is the biggest order in TS history so far.

The Desiro train rolled out today is the first of 132 trains of the Class 450 which South West Trains will operate in mass transit in future. The Class 450 series will replace the over 30 year-old Mark I ‚ the so-called 'slam-door' fleet. The first Desiro UK will be put to service by the end of this year. It will bring significant benefits to the travelling public including: air conditioning, audio and visual passenger information displays and dedicated facilities for disabled passengers.

Andrew Haines, managing director of South West Trains, said: "I am really excited to see the first new Desiro UK train on the test track. The trains will not only replace our slam door fleet but eventually, in conjunction with lengthening platforms to introduce 10 car-trains, will bring vital extra seats for our passengers. This is the country's biggest train order and we will be using it as a foundation stone for the investment and improvements contained in our 20-year-franchise which is currently being negotiated with the Strategic Rail Authority".

A slam-door train containing date recording equipment took readings from across the southern railway. This train was shipped to Germany to replicate the exact conditions of the UK network on Siemens' test track. Every detail has been considered even down to recreating British icy weather conditions by using blocks of dry ice to freeze the conductor rail down to minus 14 degrees centigrade. Pieces of fibreglass resin have also been placed on the tracks to replicate icy conditions and the perennial problems caused by leaves on the line. The trains will undergo extensive tests at Wildenrath and complete much of the required Safety Case testing before coming to the UK.

Siemens TS will offer a 24-hour service as part of the 20-year service and maintenance contract for the new vehicle fleet. Once again the modular design of the vehicles will enable maintenance times to be reduced and train availability to be increased as major components can be ‚swapped out' and repaired off-line

During the event at the test centrer, Hans M. Schabert, vice president of Siemens Transportation Systems, said: "The opportunities afforded by the privatised UK railways are significant and Siemens is committed to continue to invest and become a major player in this market. We see the South West Trains contract and our modular Desiro concept as a blueprint for future business both in the UK and across the world."

Kevin Tutton, managing director of Siemens Transportation Systems, added: "When we designed Desiro UK we looked at providing the train operator with a ‚total solution'. This package includes not only the vehicle but also a long-term commitment to deliver a world class and reliable service from day one. Today marks a significant milestone on the road to delivering a better service to South West Trains' commuters."

Haydn Abbott, managing director of Angel Trains, said: "We are delighted with the way in which our partnership with Siemens Transportation Systems and South West Trains has developed. We are maintaining our record of on-time delivery and are confident that the new trains will offer substantial benefits for South West Trains' travelling public in terms of safety, comfort and reliability.

Notes to editors:

• Siemens Transportation has orders for (options not included):
  Class 450 (20 metre): 100 x 4 car and 32 x 5 car units for South West Trains
  Class 444 (23 metre): 45 x 5 car units for South West Trains
  Class 360: 21 x 4 car units for First Great Eastern
  Class 350: 6 x 4 car units for Angel Trains
  

• The Class 450 has a new blue livery that will be used to distinguish suburban services. The long distance services will retain the current white livery

• Siemens in the UK has an annual turnover of £2.5 billion and over 17,000 employees providing high quality services and solutions to customers in a diverse range of industry sectors comprising: power, automation and control, information and communication, medical, transportation, lighting and household.

• South West Trains runs 1,700 services a day into and out of London Waterloo through 11 conties in the south and south west of England. The company emplays 5,000 staff with passengers making 142 million journeys a year - the highest number of any train company.

• Angel Trains Group, is a leading lessor of rolling stock in both the UK and continental Europe, with investments of £ 2,4 billion in new trains, over £ 150 million in fleet reliability and refurbishment in the UK and € 220 million in continental European rail markets.

• Angel Trains is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, one of Europe's leading financial services groups, founded in 1727. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is the UK's sixth largest company, the second largest bank in the UK and Europe, and it ranks fifth in the world, by market capitalisation as at 28 February 2002.
• See pictures:
  At the Internet address: www.siemens.com/ts-picture/021 you will find pictures of the Desiro UK.

• For further information about the Desiro UK please contact:
  
  Joslyn Woodger
  Siemens Transportation Systems UK
  Tel: +44 20 7227 4420
  Mobile: + 44 7808 823309
  e-mail: joslyn.woodger@siemens.co.uk