Sir - May I clarify the supplier of the new light rail vehicles for Manchester Metrolink (RG 1.08 p16).

A consortium of Vossloh Kiepe and Bombardier Transportation UK has won the contract to supply the new vehicles for Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive. They are based on the K5000 cars currently operating successfully in Köln, and have been designated M5000.

The M5000 is currently planned to be 28·4 m long and 2·65m wide, and powered by four AC motors giving a top design speed of 80 km/h.

Bombardier’s manufacturing facilities at Bautzen in Germany and Wien will produce the bodyshell, while the facility at Siegen will be responsible for delivering the bogies. Vossloh Kiepe’s manufacturing facility in Düsseldorf will provide the propulsion equipment. As well as the traction inverter, motors, gearbox and brake resistor, this also includes the static converter, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning for the cabs, CCTV and rear-view cameras, the diagnostic system, and the control technology. The propulsion equipment will be delivered from 2008, with the completed LRVs scheduled for delivery during 2009.

Edward Evans
Commercial Contracts Manager, Vossloh Kiepe GmbH
Düsseldorf, Germany