British locomotives hired for construction of new French TGV

[healeymills.com]

British locomotives hired for construction of new French TGV Est Line

Release date: 2004-06-30

EWS, Britain’s largest rail operator, has been awarded a two year contract to provide Fertis, the French rail infrastructure company, with up to 40 locomotives for use on the construction of the new TGV Est line between Paris and Strasbourg.

The contract was signed at EWS’s Toton depot where representatives from Fertis were shown the first locomotive that had been prepared for their use.

The hired EWS locomotives will be used to haul ballast trains during the building of the line and the locomotives will be based at three locations during the line’s construction – St Hilaire (near Reims), Ocquerre and Pagny (both near Metz).

EWS will provide staff on-site in France for the duration of the contract to handle all maintenance requirements on the locomotives. Up to fourteen class 58 locomotives and 26 class 56 locomotives have been hired by Fertis from EWS.

EWS already has extensive experience in providing locomotives for hire in France, Spain and Holland for both rail construction projects and commercial use, and is pleased to be further extending its expertise with this new contract. All locomotives being hired by Fertis will be prepared at EWS engineering facilities prior to being shipped to France.

Stuart Boner, EWS Engineering Director, said: “In the last five years EWS has built up an impressive track record in supplying locomotives for use on rail projects in Europe. This new hire contract for Fertis is significant in the scale of the order and it enhances the role EWS plays in Europe for the provision of rail freight and engineering services.”

Yves Bayle, Chief Executive Officer for Fertis added: “This new contract, focusing on haulage operations which contributes to the construction of a new line, is the most important signed to date by VFLI and its subsidiary Fertis. Considering EWS’s experience in this area, Fertis had confidence in calling upon them to supply the locomotives.”