Northern Rail issued the Invitation to Tender for the supply and maintenance of tram-trains for the Pen-istone Line pilot scheme (RB1323 p6) on October 2. The requirement covers a minimum of five vehicles. Funded by DfT Rail, the ￡9m project will see the vehicles enter service at the end of 2010 for a two-year period of trial running. Operation will be preceded by what Network Rail terms a 'significant amount' of preparatory work. 'A huge amount of work is being completed by the partners as we assess the infrastructure and safety and legal requirements for the UK trial of tram-train technology', said Jerry Swift, Account Director for Community Rail at NR. 'The ITT is another important step in this process'. According to industry insiders, both Bombardier and Siemens have already decided not to bid for the contract. The bi-mode electro-diesel tram-trains used on the Kassel network in Germany, which is the model for the UK pilot, were supplied by Alstom.
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