Another coup for Green Signals! This was a thoroughly absorbing interview, which gave a valuable insight into so many things - one item being that I now have a much better understanding of the procurement process for new rolling stock! Congratulations to all of you for putting together such a brilliant piece, and to Nick for his clear, concise answers, delivered in a very measured and thoughtful way. All we need now is the planners and administrators to break the cycle of 'boom and bust' and to deliver a more secure mid to long term planning strategy which will benefit everyone!
I spent all my working life in Derby so feel I have an emotional investment in it's future success. This interview with Nick, and the wider coverage of the work at Litchurch Lane was so good to see and hear. Cheers, Rob
Nick has done a great job sorting out the Bombardier legacy of half built Aventra trains parked up round the country, with suppliers that hadn't been paid; most of those trains are now in service, and Derby has a future. Alstom needed Derby and its portfolio of trains because it hadn't won a new mainline rolling stock order since Pendolino since 1998 when it was still GEC Alsthom. Good luck in your new job.
What a fabulous interview. It was very insightful and is reassuring that the industry has folk like Nick Crossfield on board, and so eloquently interviewed by Richard. I am so chuffed for Derby in particular.
People forget that Derby is a major engineering city not just in trains but jet power and nuclear technology, what with Rolls Royce just down the road, and then Burnaston Toyota nearby also producing cars too. This was a good, positive interview. I wish everyone involved all the best.
Really enjoyable interview, what a great manager. We need more guys like this in the industry. Totally clear in his vision and knows what needs to be done for the future. Richard has a good approach letting guests speak without interrupting and giving them time to give full answers.
Very welcome feature. The order of X’trapolis trains from Alstom for Iarnród Éireann in Ireland is great to see and a very welcome return to rail partnership between the two countries. As an Irishman I look forward to the arrival of these new generation of trains from Derby.
Great video a wonderful insight into the potential future for Alstom. As an employee of this company its good to hear of a positive outlook for the future
Great interview as always. The Adessia platform had better offer level boarding or it shouldn’t be considered by operators. The fact that Alstom hasn’t been exporting from Derby shows how reliant they had been on U.K. orders, not a good strategy, Stadler seems to export worldwide that should be a lesson to all U.K. rail manufacturers. Another great interview by Green signals!
Pretty sure there's more needs addressing than just the rolling stock in terms of level boarding- considering that the network has inconsistencies in platform heights... so whilst every effort should be made to maximise level boarding with new train orders, there needs to be some civil engineering work to do the rest of the job
What an clever chap Nick Crossfield is and very impressive answers to some good questions. Really liked his response to the part the DFT has to play in Rail and I have to agree that the industry does need a client that sets out long term strategies such as de-carbonisation. To-date they dont seem to have long term in mind very much and mainly look at 4 to 8 year chunks.
Very tempting to think we have too many factories at the moment - Alstom, Hitachi, Siemens, CAF, anyone else? - unless we take a view that is wider than the UK.
Great interview and great news that the plant is safe now. I do find it interesting that he envisages a halving of production lines though despite diversifying into refurbishment and hopefully more exports, is that because those lines are more efficient now and output trains faster, or a prediction of generally reduced demand in the next 10-15 years? Or a tacit admission that they aren't likely to win as many contracts what with competition from Hitachi and Siemens now well established? I can't see the CAF plant in Wales surviving this slump in orders though.
If Alstom were to continue on manufacturing more Aventra trains at Litchurch Lane facility. Then perhaps they could manufacture new Aventra trains for Southeastern to replace the Class 465 and Class 466 Networkers. And maybe ScotRail to order new Aventra trains to replace the Class 318 and Class 320 used on the Glasgow suburban lines.
Alstom will be offering its Adessia platform for new tenders, not Aventra which is more than 10 years old. Adessia offers level boarding which is great for everybody, but particularly to improve access for mobility impaired people.
Perhaps Alstom should continue on manufacturing more Aventra trains such as for Southeastern to replace the Class 465 and Class 466. And to replace the Class 318 and Class 320 that ScotRail wouldn’t mind having new electric trains to be used in the Glasgow area.
Although both The Tyne and Wear Metro and Merseyside Electric's new trains look brilliant and are quality engineered and designed. It is a pity that British Industry did not win these contracts. With the Channel Tunnel allowing ease of import of new rolling stock from Continental factories Derby Carriage Works will, together with Hitachi, Siemens in Goole and CAF in Newport look at all the issues raised by Nick Crossfield. Arguments about British Manufacturing in the Automotive and Aerospace industries have been largely mirrored in this interview. Politicians, Industrialists, Financiers and Unions all arguing their respective corners whilst paying little, if any, lip service to their opposite numbers look what that did to Britain's Industrial Base. On a more light hearted note the new HS2 stock will be built to Continental Loading Gauge, are the rail routes from Derby to the proposed new depot at Wash Wood Heath engineered to allow carriages that are currently longer, wider, higher and have greater lengths between bogies than our current British Standard Trains. For that matter the route from Newton Aycliffe to Wash Wood Heath might also have to be looked at.
It's such a shame how Nick Crossfield had to be so political in his comments about the DfT, Government and Peter Hendy for fear that Sir Corrupt would get him excluded from the industry and any future opportunities. I'm sure that if Peter was summarily dismissed we'd be able to speak freely regarding the problems in the rail industry, as we wouldn't have to be scared of upsetting the overlord.
Derby works a shadow of it's former self, Crewe the same, Swindon a bleedin shopping centre. Why oh why we insist on importing when we had the skills and facilities here for many industries. Who pays for all those folks to be redundant, Welsh steel just gone, plus a very strong possibility that Stellantis group will close Luton and Ellesmere port Vauxhall factories. I wonder what the workforce of Red Robbos day think about their actions back in the day now. We need indigenous manufacturing of rail, steel, ships, aircraft, can't see the red team boosting industry with very generous workers rights, which will kill investment.
I wonder how long it will be before the unions hold it to ransom and cost this country another fortune like we've seen in other sectors of the railway.
Alstom is a global company with 80000 people in 60 countries. It's not bad to have a business based in a country with a stable long term market for rolling stock.
Probably the best interview from any Rail industry manager.
Another coup for Green Signals!
This was a thoroughly absorbing interview, which gave a valuable insight into so many things - one item being that I now have a much better understanding of the procurement process for new rolling stock!
Congratulations to all of you for putting together such a brilliant piece, and to Nick for his clear, concise answers, delivered in a very measured and thoughtful way. All we need now is the planners and administrators to break the cycle of 'boom and bust' and to deliver a more secure mid to long term planning strategy which will benefit everyone!
Cheers Brian! Glad you enjoyed it.
I spent all my working life in Derby so feel I have an emotional investment in it's future success. This interview with Nick, and the wider coverage of the work at Litchurch Lane was so good to see and hear. Cheers, Rob
Nick has done a great job sorting out the Bombardier legacy of half built Aventra trains parked up round the country, with suppliers that hadn't been paid; most of those trains are now in service, and Derby has a future. Alstom needed Derby and its portfolio of trains because it hadn't won a new mainline rolling stock order since Pendolino since 1998 when it was still GEC Alsthom. Good luck in your new job.
He has indeed done well.
What a fabulous interview. It was very insightful and is reassuring that the industry has folk like Nick Crossfield on board, and so eloquently interviewed by Richard. I am so chuffed for Derby in particular.
Great interview, wishing the full team at Litchurch Lane every success.
The uk should stop importing trains from abroad & build them here ,not only trains but when conracts run out bring services back in house
Cheers Rob!
Excellent interview, Nick has done such great things for us at Alstom.
Agreed!
People forget that Derby is a major engineering city not just in trains but jet power and nuclear technology, what with Rolls Royce just down the road, and then Burnaston Toyota nearby also producing cars too. This was a good, positive interview. I wish everyone involved all the best.
Really enjoyable interview, what a great manager. We need more guys like this in the industry. Totally clear in his vision and knows what needs to be done for the future. Richard has a good approach letting guests speak without interrupting and giving them time to give full answers.
That was a great interview. Very interesting and informative. They’ll have a job finding a replacement for Nick Crossfield. What a top bloke.
Thanks Colin. Yes, Nick is excellent, isn't he?
Great interview again well done
Many thanks!
Excellent interview. Very informative. Richard's interview technique is something that should be copied by the mainstream media.
Its because he knows his subject and doesn't waste time chasing a gotcha question.
@@johng5474 Exactly
That was a great interview. Very interesting and informative. Thank you
Great and informative interview, looking forward to Rail 200 at Derby. Almost 150 years of stock being built here is a great achievement. 👍👍
Very welcome feature. The order of X’trapolis trains from Alstom for Iarnród Éireann in Ireland is great to see and a very welcome return to rail partnership between the two countries. As an Irishman I look forward to the arrival of these new generation of trains from Derby.
Great video a wonderful insight into the potential future for Alstom. As an employee of this company its good to hear of a positive outlook for the future
Great interview as always. The Adessia platform had better offer level boarding or it shouldn’t be considered by operators. The fact that Alstom hasn’t been exporting from Derby shows how reliant they had been on U.K. orders, not a good strategy, Stadler seems to export worldwide that should be a lesson to all U.K. rail manufacturers. Another great interview by Green signals!
Pretty sure there's more needs addressing than just the rolling stock in terms of level boarding- considering that the network has inconsistencies in platform heights... so whilst every effort should be made to maximise level boarding with new train orders, there needs to be some civil engineering work to do the rest of the job
What an clever chap Nick Crossfield is and very impressive answers to some good questions. Really liked his response to the part the DFT has to play in Rail and I have to agree that the industry does need a client that sets out long term strategies such as de-carbonisation. To-date they dont seem to have long term in mind very much and mainly look at 4 to 8 year chunks.
Very tempting to think we have too many factories at the moment - Alstom, Hitachi, Siemens, CAF, anyone else? - unless we take a view that is wider than the UK.
Great interview and great news that the plant is safe now. I do find it interesting that he envisages a halving of production lines though despite diversifying into refurbishment and hopefully more exports, is that because those lines are more efficient now and output trains faster, or a prediction of generally reduced demand in the next 10-15 years? Or a tacit admission that they aren't likely to win as many contracts what with competition from Hitachi and Siemens now well established? I can't see the CAF plant in Wales surviving this slump in orders though.
Hi from Glasgow Thanks for the video 📹
You're very welcome Cameron!
Derby Works was originally part of an integrated railway, where tracks, trains and engineering were co-ordinated. Maybe that idea had some merit?!
Yay, it's up!
Very interesting interview
Thanks Richard, glad you enjoyed it.
well done very very report
Another great interview. Any further information on the hydrogen powered Aventra's they were proposing to build ?
If Alstom were to continue on manufacturing more Aventra trains at Litchurch Lane facility. Then perhaps they could manufacture new Aventra trains for Southeastern to replace the Class 465 and Class 466 Networkers. And maybe ScotRail to order new Aventra trains to replace the Class 318 and Class 320 used on the Glasgow suburban lines.
Alstom will be offering its Adessia platform for new tenders, not Aventra which is more than 10 years old. Adessia offers level boarding which is great for everybody, but particularly to improve access for mobility impaired people.
Interesting 🤔
Perhaps Alstom should continue on manufacturing more Aventra trains such as for Southeastern to replace the Class 465 and Class 466. And to replace the Class 318 and Class 320 that ScotRail wouldn’t mind having new electric trains to be used in the Glasgow area.
Needs to be tendered though.
True.
Although both The Tyne and Wear Metro and Merseyside Electric's new trains look brilliant and are quality engineered and designed. It is a pity that British Industry did not win these contracts. With the Channel Tunnel allowing ease of import of new rolling stock from Continental factories Derby Carriage Works will, together with Hitachi, Siemens in Goole and CAF in Newport look at all the issues raised by Nick Crossfield. Arguments about British Manufacturing in the Automotive and Aerospace industries have been largely mirrored in this interview.
Politicians, Industrialists, Financiers and Unions all arguing their respective corners whilst paying little, if any, lip service to their opposite numbers look what that did to Britain's Industrial Base.
On a more light hearted note the new HS2 stock will be built to Continental Loading Gauge, are the rail routes from Derby to the proposed new depot at Wash Wood Heath engineered to allow carriages that are currently longer, wider, higher and have greater lengths between bogies than our current British Standard Trains. For that matter the route from Newton Aycliffe to Wash Wood Heath might also have to be looked at.
The new HS2 stock will have to be built to the UK loading gauge, otherwise it will be restricted to running between London and Birmingham.
Does Alstom have anything that could replace the 800 sieries units, if at some stage the decision gets made to replace those units.
It's such a shame how Nick Crossfield had to be so political in his comments about the DfT, Government and Peter Hendy for fear that Sir Corrupt would get him excluded from the industry and any future opportunities. I'm sure that if Peter was summarily dismissed we'd be able to speak freely regarding the problems in the rail industry, as we wouldn't have to be scared of upsetting the overlord.
Derby works a shadow of it's former self, Crewe the same, Swindon a bleedin shopping centre.
Why oh why we insist on importing when we had the skills and facilities here for many industries.
Who pays for all those folks to be redundant, Welsh steel just gone, plus a very strong possibility that Stellantis group will close Luton and Ellesmere port Vauxhall factories.
I wonder what the workforce of Red Robbos day think about their actions back in the day now.
We need indigenous manufacturing of rail, steel, ships, aircraft, can't see the red team boosting industry with very generous workers rights, which will kill investment.
Alstom Crewe will be building bogies again, for HS2 trains. I didn't see that coming.
I'd love to know some of those specific change requests, because he's obviously stopping himself going into more detail.
Sadly those in charge think you can
Indeed
@@GreenSignals I fact, capitalism dogma demands it.
I wonder how long it will be before the unions hold it to ransom and cost this country another fortune like we've seen in other sectors of the railway.
Alstom = French!
Alstom is a global company with 80000 people in 60 countries. It's not bad to have a business based in a country with a stable long term market for rolling stock.