Britain's Express Trains to be Built by Japanese Firm.

[TedShatner10]

Link

Anger over new UK trains contract

There has been anger over the government's decision to award a £7.5bn contract to build a fleet of inter-city trains to Japanese firm Hitachi.

The government said the contract for the "super express" trains would "create and safeguard" 12,500 UK jobs.

But the Conservatives said the transport secretary had not provided details to back up the jobs claim.

Unions have called for urgent talks with the government over how much of the work will be done in the UK.

The stock will replace ageing high-speed trains on the Great Western and East Coast main lines.

The consortium awarded the contract, called Agility Trains, is made up of John Laing, Hitachi and Barclays Bank.

The rival consortium which missed out included Bombardier, the only company making trains in the UK, which employs more than 2,000 workers at its Derby factory.

BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said the train would be assembled at a factory in Britain, in a location to be confirmed, and its engines made somewhere in Europe. The wheels will be made in Britain but its body shell will be made in Japan.

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It's good news that they're finally going to revitalize the UK's rail network, but somewhat unfortunate that it is going out to a Japanese company, but however that said that serves Britain fucking right for dropping homegrown engineers and manufacturers like hot bricks, while falling way behind Japan and some European countries in railway infrastructure.

 

[cultcross]

serves Britain fucking right for dropping homegrown engineers and manufacturers like hot bricks, while falling way behind Japan and some European countries in railway infrastructure.

Pretty much my feelings. As things stand, Japanese or European companies could wipe the floor with the British competition for the contract, and I'd rather have trains that were delivered on time and without bribing the safety guy.
Good transport creates opportunities in Britain, whoever builds it. I may end up commuting to London for a time next year, I'd kill for a high speed rail link to do it on.

 

[MIB]

Good transport creates opportunities in Britain, whoever builds it. I may end up commuting to London for a time next year, I'd kill for a high speed rail link to do it on.

You and me both. But in my case, I suspect it will still be decades before high-speed rail comes to the States. (ie: after fuel costs make driving rediculously sized fleets of cars economically impossible). I could tell you with certianty that if I could hop a train to Atlanta just to shop and hang out and go to the concerts that don't come to Augusta (without making it a big driving ordeal), I'd certianly do it often enough. And I hardly think I'm alone on that one.

 

[Holdfast]

I've edited down the original post - for copyright reasons, please don't repost the entire article.


On topic - can't say I care too much. Protectionism is increasingly self-destructive; it's a global economy these days and we'll do better economically in the long term by not swimming against that tide.

 

[Colonel Green]

Given that the only other company in the running (Bombardier) isn't British either (its Canadian), I really don't see what the fuss is about. Bombardier has a factory in the UK, but there is no way the trains would have been wholly built there.

The trains will be assembled in the UK, which is probably about as good a deal as you'd have gotten from Bombardier.

 

[Sephiroth]

have you seen the Japanese rail system? verry efficient, I wish the new Rail Runner here in New Mexico was a bit more advanced

 

[the_wildcard]

You and me both. But in my case, I suspect it will still be decades before high-speed rail comes to the States. (ie: after fuel costs make driving rediculously sized fleets of cars economically impossible). I could tell you with certianty that if I could hop a train to Atlanta just to shop and hang out and go to the concerts that don't come to Augusta (without making it a big driving ordeal), I'd certianly do it often enough. And I hardly think I'm alone on that one.

Hahaha, waaay easily more than a decade. You've got a combination of car industry lobbyists and airline lobbyists doing everything they can to prevent the development of high speed rail in America.

And add to that the environmentalists who will raise complete hell if even one (1) tree is in the way of the proposed train route. It's complete stupidity.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I've edited down the original post - for copyright reasons, please don't repost the entire article.


On topic - can't say I care too much. Protectionism is increasingly self-destructive; it's a global economy these days and we'll do better economically in the long term by not swimming against that tide.

I agree. Plus you know if a British contractor got it it would be years over due, millions over budget, and shit.

 

[cultcross]

I've edited down the original post - for copyright reasons, please don't repost the entire article.


On topic - can't say I care too much. Protectionism is increasingly self-destructive; it's a global economy these days and we'll do better economically in the long term by not swimming against that tide.

I agree. Plus you know if a British contractor got it it would be years over due, millions over budget, and shit.

My point exactly. I would have thought BT's handling of upgrading the exchanges for broadband should have British companies in general serving a time-out for general shittiness.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I've edited down the original post - for copyright reasons, please don't repost the entire article.


On topic - can't say I care too much. Protectionism is increasingly self-destructive; it's a global economy these days and we'll do better economically in the long term by not swimming against that tide.

I agree. Plus you know if a British contractor got it it would be years over due, millions over budget, and shit.

My point exactly. I would have thought BT's handling of upgrading the exchanges for broadband should have British companies in general serving a time-out for general shittiness.

What is it about our own contractors and businesses that make them shit? Is it just the fact they strive to do things (expensive things) on the cheap?

 

[ITL]

Oh, come on! What about British Leyland in the 70's? They were....err...umm....

Err...

 

[MIB]

You and me both. But in my case, I suspect it will still be decades before high-speed rail comes to the States. (ie: after fuel costs make driving rediculously sized fleets of cars economically impossible). I could tell you with certianty that if I could hop a train to Atlanta just to shop and hang out and go to the concerts that don't come to Augusta (without making it a big driving ordeal), I'd certianly do it often enough. And I hardly think I'm alone on that one.

Hahaha, waaay easily more than a decade. You've got a combination of car industry lobbyists and airline lobbyists doing everything they can to prevent the development of high speed rail in America. [snip]

Oh, I know it will be more than a decade. That's why I said decades; plural.

 

[anti-matter]

Maybe the government wants a train that won't leak oil?

Besides isn't work like this always sent out for bid?

 

[judge alba]

wouldn't make any differance where the trains are built they still wont run on time and a bit of snow will still stop them, or leaves

 

[wamdue]

if its built by a British firm, it will be delayed on the first day, and the reason given will be "it is the wrong type of train"

 

[cultcross]

if its built by a British firm, it will be delayed on the first day, and the reason given will be "it is the wrong type of train"

 

[Holdfast]

if its built by a British firm, it will be delayed on the first day, and the reason given will be "it is the wrong type of train"

It's funny 'cos it's true. Remember the much-vaunted tilting trains that had to be speed-limited because it turned out they tilted too much? Or the previous ones, that made people sick?

 

[cultcross]

if its built by a British firm, it will be delayed on the first day, and the reason given will be "it is the wrong type of train"

It's funny 'cos it's true. Remember the much-vaunted tilting trains that had to be speed-limited because it turned out they tilted too much? Or the previous ones, that made people sick?

Easier when they don't turn up at all, really

 

[Captain X]

I understand frustration over out-sourcing all too well (it's the new American past-time), but in this case the Japanese are a good choice because they already have experience with high speed trains.

As for in the States, high speed trains are operating in the Northeast, but it's slow work to set up the tracks for it, because they have to eliminate and re-route so many crossings. After all, with as many crossing accidents there are with trains moving at 70 MPH or slower, something that moves as fast as a bullet train would probably not only kill the stupid person trying to beat it, but probably a lot of people on the train, too.

 

[stoneroses]

There is no indusrty in The Uk so nothing is built here by British companies.