CAF Newport

Last updated

CAF Newport
CAF Class 195 117.jpg
A CAF Class 195 DMU that was completed at the Newport site in late 2019
Newport UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of CAF Newport
CAF Newport
Built13 July 2017 (2017-07-13)
LocationCeltic Business Park, Llanwern, Newport, Wales
Coordinates 51°34′47″N2°54′35″W / 51.5798°N 2.9098°W / 51.5798; -2.9098 Coordinates: 51°34′47″N2°54′35″W / 51.5798°N 2.9098°W / 51.5798; -2.9098
IndustryRailway
ProductsRailway rolling stock
Employees200 (2020), 300 projected
Buildings4
Volume160,000 square feet (15,000 m2) (buildings)
500,000 square feet (46,000 m2) (whole site)
Address1 Monks Ditch Drive
Celtic Business Park
Newport
NP19 4RH
UK
Owner(s)CAF Rolling Stock UK Ltd

CAF Newport is a rolling stock factory located at Celtic Business Park, near Llanwern steelworks in Newport. The site was announced as a train-building factory in 2016 [1] and was producing rolling stock by 2018. [2] It was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles on 21 February 2020. [3]

Contents

The factory is owned and operated by CAF Rolling Stock UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (Spanish : Construction & Other Railway Services). CAF have to date built both DMUs [4] and EMUs [5] at the site. [6]

History

CAF have long supplied trains for the UK rail network from its factories in Spain. Products have included Class 3000 and Class 4000 DMU's for Northern Ireland Railways, Class 332 and Class 333 sets, [7] Class 195, Class 331 [8] stock for the former Arriva Rail North franchise (now Northern Trains), Class 196 for West Midlands Trains, Class 197 for Transport for Wales and for TransPennine Express who ordered their Nova 2 and Nova 3 sets. [9] CAF have also previously supplied their Urbos 3 trams for Edinburgh and the West Midlands Metro. [10]

When searching for a possible site to construct trains in the UK, CAF looked at over 100 different locations before settling on one on a part of a defunct steelworks in Llanwern in South Wales. [11] The site is located alongside sidings which follow the main line between Newport and Bristol Parkway, and the site has three main buildings: a three-road assembly plant, a five-road test shed, and a stores building. [12] The west end of the site has a traverser, which enables easy access to lines without the need for excessive shunting, and a water test facility. [13]

The project cost £30 million and the footprint of the buildings cover an area of 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2), [14] with capacity to extend onsite as CAF own 495,140 square feet (46,000 m2). [15] Expansion would have been be necessary to build the near 200-metre (660 ft) trains for HS2, if CAF had been successful in their bid. [13] Initially, the site had just 12 employees, but that stood at 200 by the start of 2020. The company expects that the order book will necessitate expanding to 300 staff to fulfil those orders. [16]

Construction of the factory started in 2016, with production of rolling stock starting in 2018. The site was officially opened by the Prince of Wales in February 2020. [17]

CAF had stated that should they be awarded the contract to build trains for HS2, then they would be assembled in South Wales using their Oaris platform. [18] However in December 2021, the contract was awarded to a competing manufacturer.

The bodyshells, bogies and engines are manufactured off site, and bodyshells specifically are produced at CAFs plants in Beasain, Zaragosa and Irun, but assembly and other manufacturing is undertaken at Newport. [19]

Production at the site was ceased in March 2020 after the COVID-19 restrictions of social distancing came into effect in the United Kingdom. Bodyshell deliveries from Spain had ceased two weeks before the factory's closure, and although it was possible to continue building without the bodyshell deliveries, it was felt that it was unable to keep the workers at a safe distance from each other. [20]

Classes built

For UK National Rail (the Civity platform): [21] [22] [23]

Other ventures

CAF also have other business strands operating out of the Newport site; all UK rolling stock works are concentrated on the site including design, system engineering and support to projects such as the passenger coaches for the Caledonian Sleeper and TransPennine Express which were built outside of the UK. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 66</span> Class of diesel electric locomotives

The Class 66 is a type of six-axle diesel-electric freight locomotive developed in part from the Class 59, for use on the railways of the UK. Since its introduction the class has been successful and has been sold to British and other European railway companies. In Continental Europe it is marketed as the EMD Class 66 (JT42CWR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 158</span> British diesel multiple unit train

The British Rail Class 158Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train. It is a member of the Sprinter series of regional trains, produced as a replacement for British Rail's first generation of DMUs; of the other members, the Class 159 is almost identical to the Class 158, having been converted from Class 158 to Class 159 in two batches to operate express services from London Waterloo to the West of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh Marches line</span> Railway line

The Welsh Marches line, known historically as the North and West Route, is the railway line running from Newport in south-east Wales to Shrewsbury in the West Midlands region of England by way of Abergavenny, Hereford and Craven Arms and thence to Crewe via Whitchurch. The line thus links the south of Wales to north-west England via the Welsh Marches region, bypassing Birmingham. Through services from south-west Wales, Swansea and Cardiff to Manchester and from Cardiff to Wrexham, Chester, the north coast of Wales and Anglesey constitute the bulk of passenger operations on the route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 168</span> British diesel multiple-unit passenger train

The Class 168Clubman is a British diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train used on Chiltern Line services between London Marylebone and the West Midlands. One unit has been converted to hybrid operation as of 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Headingley railway station</span> Railway station in West Yorkshire, England

Headingley railway station is off Kirkstall Lane in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, on the Harrogate Line, 3 miles (5 km) north west of Leeds. The station was opened in 1849 by the Leeds & Thirsk Railway, later part of the Leeds Northern Railway to Northallerton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles</span> Spanish railway and bus manufacturing company

Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is a Spanish publicly listed company which manufactures railway vehicles and equipment and buses through its Solaris Bus & Coach subsidiary. It is based in Beasain, Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. Equipment manufactured by Grupo CAF includes light rail vehicles, rapid transit trains, railroad cars and locomotives, as well as variable gauge axles that can be fitted on any existing truck or bogie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NIR Class 4000</span>

The Class 4000 is a type of diesel multiple unit in service with NI Railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beacon Rail</span>

Beacon Rail is a rolling stock company (ROSCO) based in the United Kingdom. Its primary business is the leasing of locomotives and rolling stock to various train operating companies (TOCs).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hitachi Newton Aycliffe</span> Railway rolling Stock plant in County Durham, England

Hitachi Newton Aycliffe is a railway rolling stock assembly plant owned by Hitachi Rail Europe, situated in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in the North East of England. Construction started in 2013 at a cost of £82 million, with train assembly commencing in 2015. It was the first factory that Hitachi built in Europe, as a result of it winning the Intercity Express Programme tender. Originally on opening, no actual manufacturing operations took place at the site; it assembled components built elsewhere into completed trains. However, for the later classes, some manufacturing took place on site. By October 2017, the plant employed over 1,000 members of staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 331</span> British electric multiple-unit (EMU) train built by CAF

The British Rail Class 331 Civity is a class of electric multiple unit built by CAF, owned by Eversholt Rail Group, and currently operated by Northern Trains. A total of 43 units have been built – 31 three-car units and 12 four-car units. Construction of the trains started in July 2017 and they were phased into service from 1 July 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 195</span> British diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train built by CAF

The British Rail Class 195 Civity is a class of diesel multiple-unit passenger train manufactured by CAF, owned by Eversholt Rail Group and currently operated by Northern Trains. A total of 58 units have been built; 25 two-car units and 33 three-car units. The class is almost identical to the Class 331 also produced by CAF, which is the electric version of the Class 195, differing only in traction type and vehicle formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 397</span> Class of electric multiple unit built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF

The British Rail Class 397 Civity is a class of electric multiple unit built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF for lease to TransPennine Express by Eversholt Rail Group. A total of twelve five-car units were built to operate services on TransPennine North West services between Liverpool Lime Street/Manchester Airport and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Mark 5A</span>

The British Rail Mark 5A is a type of railway vehicle in use in the UK. 52 standard carriages and 14 driving trailers were built by Spanish manufacturer CAF, and all are currently operated by TransPennine Express. They first entered service on 24 August 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 196</span> British diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train built by CAF

The British Rail Class 196 Civity is a class of diesel multiple unit built for West Midlands Trains by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF. A total of 26 units have been built; 12 two-car units and 14 four-car units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siemens Goole</span> Future rolling stock factory in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Siemens Goole is a train factory located in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Siemens Mobility scoped several sites in the United Kingdom before settling on Goole with an intent to build the plant if it were successful in gaining orders for new rolling stock. After a June 2018 announcement that Siemens had won the bid to build 94 London Underground New Tube for London trains for the Piccadilly line of the London Underground, Siemens confirmed it would go ahead with building the factory, though this was then subject to further delays as other rolling stock companies objected to Siemens being given the contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 69</span> Class of diesel train locomotive

The British Rail Class 69 is a class of diesel locomotives which are converted from Class 56 locomotives. The conversion work is performed by Progress Rail at their workshop in Longport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 810</span> Hitachi bi-mode train

The British Rail Class 810 Aurora is a type of bi-mode multiple unit which is under construction by Hitachi for East Midlands Railway. Based on the Hitachi AT300 design, 33 five-car units are being built to replace Class 180s and Class 222s on EMR's intercity routes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 197</span> British diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train built by CAF

The British Rail Class 197 is a class of diesel multiple unit passenger train being built for Transport for Wales by CAF, based on its Civity platform. A total of 77 units are to be built, split into 51 two-car units and 26 three-car units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport for Wales Rail</span> Welsh train operating company

Transport for Wales Rail Limited, branded as Transport for Wales and TfW Rail, is a Welsh publicly owned train operating company, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales (TfW), a Welsh Government-owned company. It commenced operations of the day to day services of the Wales & Borders franchise on 7 February 2021, as an operator of last resort, succeeding KeolisAmey Wales. Transport for Wales Rail manages 248 National Rail stations, including all 223 in Wales, and operates all passenger mainline services wholly within Wales, and services from Wales, Chester, and Shrewsbury to Liverpool, Manchester, Manchester Airport, Crewe, Birmingham, Bidston and Cheltenham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Centre of Rail Excellence</span> Future railway testing site in Wales

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) is a proposed train, railway infrastructure and technology testing facility, located in Onllwyn, Wales, where the site sits on the border between Neath Port Talbot and Powys. The centre is located on a site previously used for coal mining and a coal washery, with some 550 acres (220 ha) given over to the new testing centre, which will be unique in Europe due to having a track for testing rail vehicles at high speed, and another test track dedicated to railway infrastructure.

References

  1. ↑ "Good news from Newport businesses | Newport City Council". www.newport.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  2. ↑ 2020-02-24T11:33:00+00:00. "Prince of Wales inaugurates CAF's Newport rolling stock factory". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "Prince Charles visits Newport for official opening of new train factory". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. ↑ 2019-12-18T09:37:00+00:00. "West Midlands Trains reveals first Class 196 DMU". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. ↑ 2017-07-12T23:02:00+01:00. "CAF selects Newport for UK rolling stock factory". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. ↑ 2020-02-24T11:33:00+00:00. "Prince of Wales inaugurates CAF's Newport rolling stock factory". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ↑ Harris 2020, p. 39.
  8. ↑ "UK Northern introduces first nine CAF trains into service". Railway Technology. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "TransPennine Express introduces new Nova fleet". International Railway Journal. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  10. ↑ Pritchard, Robert, ed. (October 2019). "Blue livery spreads to more of the West Midlands Metro fleet". Today's Railways. No. 214. Sheffield: Platform 5. p. 20. ISSN   1475-9713.
  11. ↑ "300 train building jobs announced". BBC News. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  12. ↑ Bickerdyke, Paul (April 2020). "Royal opening for CAF Newport". Rail Express. No. 287. Horncastle: Mortons Media. p. 12. ISSN   1362-234X.
  13. 1 2 Sherratt 2020, p. 57.
  14. ↑ Harris, Nigel, ed. (11 March 2020). "Inside CAF's new factory". Rail Magazine. No. 900. Peterborough: Bauer Media. p. 42. ISSN   0953-4563.
  15. ↑ Kelsey, Chris (22 March 2018). "The new train making factory that will provide jobs for hundreds". Wales Online. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  16. ↑ Sherratt 2020, pp. 54–56.
  17. ↑ Thomas, Nicholas (21 February 2020). "Prince Charles visits Newport for official opening of new train factory". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  18. ↑ Barry, Sion (11 June 2019). "The Newport train factory bidding to build £2.7bn worth of new high-speed trains". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  19. ↑ Clinnick, Richard (11 March 2020). "CAT's £30 million Welsh factory officially opens". Rail Magazine. No. 900. Peterborough: Bauer Media. p. 10. ISSN   0953-4563.
  20. ↑ Harris, Nigel, ed. (8 April 2020). "UK train production stops but depots remain open for servicing". Rail Magazine. No. 902. Peterborough: Bauer Media. p. 12. ISSN   0953-4563.
  21. ↑ Milner, Chris, ed. (March 2020). "Prince Charles formally opens CAF Factory in Newport". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 166, no. 1, 428. Horncastle: Mortons Media. p. 10. ISSN   0033-8923.
  22. ↑ "Prince of Wales inaugurates CAF's Newport rolling stock factory". Railway Gazette International. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  23. ↑ "CAF wins Docklands Light Railway train contract". Railway Gazette International. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  24. ↑ Sherratt 2020, p. 54.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.