The Crossrail project which will link Berkshire and Essex to central London has announced plans to delay the procurement of its new felt of trains and depots in a move which is thought to cut costs. It has raised hopes of that the deal could now go to a UK-based firm.
Crossrail have said that the move would make savings for the taxpayers “running into the tens of millions” by introducing rolling stock to the network over a shorter period of time. The delay will result in trains being introduced to the network in May 2017, rather than November 2016.
The £1bn tender to supply 60 new trains and depots for the £16bn Crossrail project had been expected to launch late this year, however this has been delayed until 2012.
The delay will put the process back giving the Department for Transport time to conduct a a review of EU procurement rules to see if UK companies are unfairly losing out to European rivals for large UK infrastructure projects.
Of the five potential bidders for the Crossrail project, Alstom Transport has subsequently withdrawn from the contract shortlist. This leaves Bombardier, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles SA (CAF), Hitachi Rail Europe and Siemens are still in the running.
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