UK: Southern announced on November 14 that is developing proposals in conjunction with the Department for Transport to procure 116 electric multiple-unit cars, with an option for a further 100. Procurement would be undertaken through the Link-Up system.
An order for new vehicles would assist DfT in the rolling stock cascades associated with the Thameslink Programme. The routes the EMUs would be deployed on have not been decided at this early stage, but the 750 V DC third rail/25 kV 50 Hz dual-voltage units would be required to operate at up 177 km/h (110 mile/h).
Any firm order would depend on DfT accepting the business case for the new units and agreeing amendments to Southern's franchise agreement.
- Separately, Southern has announced its intention to place a firm order for a further eight Bombardier Electrostar EMUs by exercising an option on a contract for 130 cars announced in December 2011. The five-car units would enter service in December 2014 to provide additional capacity and enable a cascade of rolling stock around the wider network. Porterbrook has been selected to fund the new stock.
