South Western Railway Awards £66m EMU Support and Spares Contract
South Western Railway (SWR) has signed a £66 million, 4½-year Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement with Alstom for the Class 701 Arterio electric multiple units.
The contract, announced on November 5, covers continuous technical assistance for 60 ten-car and 30 five-car trains owned by Rock Rail. These trains are being introduced on suburban routes connecting London Waterloo with surrounding areas.
Alstom will deploy nearly 40 staff members at SWR’s Wimbledon Traincare Depot and Network Rail’s Basingstoke Rail Operations Centre. The company will also handle the supply of spare parts for both light and heavy maintenance operations.
Additionally, a team of five engineers will focus on collecting and analyzing onboard data to enable predictive maintenance and enhance fleet efficiency.
“This new agreement with South Western Railway marks a significant milestone in our long-standing partnership. We’re proud to continue supporting the Arterio fleet with our technical expertise and predictive maintenance capabilities,” said Steven Harvey, Services Director UK & Ireland at Alstom.
“Our dedicated team is committed to ensuring these Alstom-built trains deliver the highest standards of performance and reliability for fare-paying passengers,” he added.
Author’s Summary
The £66m contract strengthens Alstom’s technical role for SWR’s Arterio fleet, ensuring continuous support, data-driven maintenance, and improved suburban train reliability.