Baker Bellfield is an SME (small and medium enterprise) in Telford that will be supplying East Midlands Railway (EMR) with a wide selection of bespoke tables for the new Aurora fleet. The contract has seen six new specialist manufacturing roles created in the process which has supported the company throughout the pandemic. Baker Bellfield is part of Hitachi Rail's UK supply chain.
The contract will provide a substantial part of the company's revenue over the next two years and offers certainty and the ability for it to secure investment for new state-of-the-art machinery costing half a million pounds.
The tables designs are both engineered and validated in-house with parts and components bonded, welded, injection moulded and painted at Baker Bellfields production sites in Telford. Once complete, the tables are dispatched to Hitachi's factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham where they will be installed into the new Aurora units.
The Aurora trains are set to enter service during 2023 and will bring significant benefits when compared to EMR's current fleet with passengers being able to enjoy more seating and modern interiors. The Aurora fleet is currently in production at Hitachi Rail's UK factory.
The fleet will include the option to run on overhead electric lines and will also feature benefits for passengers such as air conditioning, free WiFi throughout, plug sockets and better passenger information screens.
Robert Wilkin, of Baker Bellfield, said:
“Contracts such as the Aurora one are vital for companies like us and we are very proud to be working on it and helping to bring these exciting new trains to the UK.
“The tables in the new Aurora fleet are amongst the safest in the world and have been made to meet the new higher rail safety standards. All accessible folding tables will have our new generation “soft close” hinge system that allows the table to return to its down position in a controlled fashion, while first-class passengers will get the wow factor when they see the Italian made real wood laminates we use on our tables – which are manufactured by our partners Puricelli – who make some of the greenest tables on the market.”
Lisa Angus, Transitions and Projects Director at East Midlands Railway, said:
“The Aurora contract is helping to support and grow UK manufacturing jobs across the Midlands and the UK and Baker Bellfield is a great example.
“Our team, along with Hitachi Rail, has worked closely with the company to make sure the tables are exactly what our customers require and we are looking forward to seeing them being used when our new fleet begins service in 2023.”
Amy Webb, Head of Programme at Hitachi Rail, said:
“It's fantastic the manufacturing of Hitachi Rail trains is supporting jobs and growth in the Midlands.
“Supporting SME jobs neatly epitomises the benefits of Hitachi Rail's decision to prioritise UK suppliers. Having invested over £1.8billion in the UK supply chain ensures Hitachi Rail has a positive impact right across the country.”
Why this obsession with Hitachi. Speaking personally I am not impressed with their new trains and the seats on the GWR IETs are horribly uncomfortable.
Most of the passengers who use EMR would want to know about if the seats on the Class 810 Auroras will be as comfortable. That’s what they would be asking before these new Bi-mode trains enter service from next year.