Alstom-SWR: £66M TSSSA Boosts Class 701 Arterio Fleet Reliability

Introduction

Alstom has secured a GBP 66 million (EUR 76 million) Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA) with South Western Railway (SWR) for its Class 701 Arterio fleet, ensuring continued technical support and spare parts supply for 750 Aventra vehicles operating from London Waterloo.

Contract Details

The four-and-a-half-year TSSSA will cover the maintenance and support of SWR’s Class 701 Arterio fleet. This includes 60 ten-car and 30 five-car units. The contract builds upon a seven-year partnership between Alstom and SWR that began in 2017. Approximately 40 Alstom specialists will be based at SWR’s Wimbledon Traincare Depot and Network Rail’s Basingstoke Rail Operations Centre (ROC) to provide 24-hour support.

Maintenance and Support

Under the new TSSSA, Alstom will supply both heavy and light maintenance spares. A dedicated team of five engineers will focus on data collection and analysis from trains in service. This data-driven approach aims to enable predictive maintenance, reduce downtime, and improve reliability of the Arterio fleet.

Fleet Overview

The Class 701 Arterio fleet offers increased capacity, comfort, and energy efficiency for SWR passengers. The trains, part of Alstom’s Aventra platform, were designed, engineered, manufactured, and tested at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Works in Derby. The Arterio fleet serves suburban routes radiating from London. Alstom has produced 2,660 Aventra cars at Derby since 2015.

Industry Commentary

James Wale, Head of Fleet Delivery at South Western Railway, highlighted the positive impact of the Arterio fleet on customer journeys. Mark Swindell, Chief Executive Officer of Rock Rail, which owns the Arterio fleet, expressed satisfaction with Alstom’s continued maintenance of the trains.

Conclusion

Alstom and South Western Railway have entered into a new Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement valued at GBP 66 million (EUR 76 million) to support the Class 701 Arterio fleet. The agreement will ensure ongoing maintenance and spare parts supply for the 750 Aventra vehicles. The contract builds upon the existing partnership, with Alstom providing support from Wimbledon Traincare Depot and Basingstoke Rail Operations Centre.

Company Summary

Alstom: Alstom signed a four-and-a-half-year Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA) with South Western Railway (SWR) to maintain and support the operator’s Class 701 Arterio fleet, valued at GBP 66 million (EUR 76 million). Alstom designed, engineered, manufactured, and tested the Class 701 Arterio trains at its Litchurch Lane Works in Derby and has produced 2,660 Aventra cars at Derby since 2015.

South Western Railway (SWR): South Western Railway (SWR) has signed a Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA) with Alstom to maintain and support the operator’s Class 701 Arterio fleet. The Class 701 Arterio fleet represents a major upgrade for SWR passengers, offering greater comfort, capacity and energy efficiency.

Rock Rail: Rock Rail owns the Arterio fleet.