c2c Wins Golden Spanner Award for Best Reliability

The annual ‘Golden Spanner Awards’ recognises improvements in rolling stock reliability across the UK rail industry, the awards are based on statistical data and take into account the different classes of trains operating throughout the network.

c2c’s fleet of class 357 Electrostar trains were officially recognised as the most reliable trains in the country and also won in their category of new electric trains. The average distance run between any mechanical defects occurring to a c2c train is69,521miles.

c2c Managing Director Julian Drury said: “We are delighted with the Class 357 Electrostar units which are delivering Japanese style reliability on Britain’s most punctual mainline railway. Our maintenance partnership with Bombardier continues to bring improved reliability and availability of our Electrostar fleet. I’d like to thank our fleet team at East Ham Depot for the work they have put into making our Electrostar trains the most reliable on the UK rail network.”

Colin S Walton, Chairman, Bombardier Transportation UK "We are extremely proud of the reliability of our UK trains, which scooped 8 out of the 10 Golden and Silver Spanners awarded at this year's event. Our star performers are the Electrostars for c2c and the high performance of this fleet is a testament to the highly successful partnership approach adopted by Bombardier and c2c."

c2c’s fleet of Class 357 Electrostar trains have just clocked-up a total mileage of 50 million miles. This represents the fleet of trains travelling around the world over 2,000 times since entering passenger service nine years ago.