Sydney 4GT
defaultuser@domain.com
Wed, 12 Nov 1997 20:57:13 +1100
Tenders have now closed for the construction of Sydney's fourth
generation double deck suburban trains. The three company's bidding for
the contract are: Gonninans, Clyde Engineering and ADTRANS/ABB. It is
interesting to note that all three are proposing to construct these cars
in Newcastle. Gonninans already have a factory there whereas Clyde are
proposing to use the former SRA Cardiff workshops. ABB have a workshop
at Tommago which is presently producing the PHCH hoppers. The successful
bidder will also receive a 35 year maintenance contract and this work
will be performed somewhere in Sydney. The announcement on the
successful bidder will be made in February with the first of 80 cars to
be delivered by late 1999. There is an option for an additional 120 cars
at a future date. I wonder if the decision by Clyde and ADTRANS to build
in Newcastle is political? Remember the 82 class were built in a hired
workshop at Mittagong in John Faye's (the then Premier) electorate.