ALSTOM welcomes the findings of the Cullen / UFF inquiry
into train protection systems

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.

With more than 35 product lines and a presence in over 60
countries, ALSTOM's Transport Sector offers cutting-edge
products and services to four distinct types of customers:
urban transit authorities and operators; intercity passenger
rail operators and rolling stock owners; rail freight
operators; and intercity railway infrastructure owners.
ALSTOM's Transport Sector, with 4.4  billion euros in
sales in 2001, is among the world's leading suppliers to the
railway industry.

Press contact:
Helen Connolly

Tel. +33 (0)1 41 66 91 43

helen.connolly@transport.alstom.com

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