ALSTOM welcomes the findings of the Cullen/UFF
inquiry

ALSTOM welcomes the findings of the Cullen/UFF inquiry into
train protection systems. The company is already working,
together with various industry partners, in a significant
number of areas outlined in the report and is at the forefront
of developing advanced signalling solutions for railways such
as the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).

Charles Burch, Managing Director of ALSTOM Signalling Ltd
said, 'We welcome the findings of the Cullen/UFF Enquiry and
wholeheartedly welcome measures that will serve to make
Britain's railways safer.' He continued, 'The timescales,
proposed by the report, are challenging but achievable if
funding is agreed quickly and a sustained commitment made by
Railtrack, the TOC's and the SRA to plan and implement a
rolling programme'

ALSTOM is currently developing, in partnership with
Railtrack, an ERTMS system for the UK West Coast Main Line,
which will commence operation in 2005. The dedicated ALSTOM
test track at Old Dalby will be used for testing both the new
Virgin trains and also for ERTMS testing, the latter starting
in the last quarter of 2001. Similar successful testing of this
technology has already been completed by ALSTOM in Firenze,
Italy in partnership with Italian State Railways (FS).

West Coast Mainline will be the first application of a
generic ERTMS system suitable for wider deployment, for example
on the East Coast and Great Western main lines. The extension
of this system on the GWML infrastructure and the Thames Trains
fleet, as recommended by the report, is both welcome and
considered feasible by ALSTOM.

ALSTOM has a successful track record in the design,
development and supply of Automatic Train Protection (ATP)
systems in the UK and has supplied ATP for Heathrow Express and
the Great Western Mainline. Fitment of ERTMS to the UK train
fleet is a major logistical challenge and to help speed the
process ALSTOM is offering a 'factory fitted' option in all its
new trains built for the UK railways.

For further information please contact:

Aygun Gardiner


Tel: 07801 773771


Email:
aygun.gardiner@chq.alstom.com

Brian Bennett


Tel: 07801 775563


Email:
brian.bennett@chq.alstom.com

Please visit our website:
www.alstom.com

Notes to editors :

ALSTOM Transport, with sales of over 4 billion euros and a
near 20% market share, is a leading supplier of rolling stock,
signalling, services and railway systems to the rail industry
world-wide.

In the UK, ALSTOM Transport employs over 8,000 people. Major
transport facilities are in Eastleigh, Borehamwood, Birmingham
and Preston.

Further information on ERTMS is available on
www.etrms.com