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These are the shiny new
Electrostar 378 class trains which will run through Sydenham on the new East
London Line. Construction north and south of the river is running well and on
schedule for the planned June 2010 opening. Will these trains be ready to
run?
Bombardier, the Canadian company that now runs the old
British Rail Derby Works, has failed to deliver the first of the trains and has
warned the whole program may be disrupted because of the credit crunch.
Production lines have been halted because Bombardier say they cannot get
essential components because of their supplier's funding problems. Bombardier
has been forced to lay off 77 staff until the problematical components,
including toilet modules and corridor components, can be obtained when its
production lines should be running at full speed with record orders.
Delays to train delivery could also prove expensive
for Bombardier, which faces financial penalties for missing completion dates.
The company is currently rescheduling delivery dates with Transport for London.
The full report is
«here»
Meanwhile by most accounts from both official and
unofficial sources, it appears that the line is still on track for its June
2010 reopening. Here are some pictures of progress:
http://londonreconnections.blogspot.com/2008/12/ell-progress-some-photos.html
http://londonreconnections.blogspot.com/2009/01/ell-work-continues-at-shoreditch.html
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