GNER has signed a multi-million pound maintenance agreement with engine supplier MTU, covering the new diesel engines currently being installed in its diesel High Speed Trains.

GNER is replacing all of the engines in its diesel High Speed Train (HST) fleet with new German-made MTU 16V4000R41 diesel engines, to deliver a more reliable, safer and greener service for passengers.

To mark the maintenance contract, a special signing was held at Kings Cross station on 20 June 2007. In the station at the same time was refurbished powercar No. 43290, which has been fitted with an MTU engine and now carries a cast MTU nameplate.

A joint presentation also took place to mark the retirement of Gordon Burgess, Managing Director of MTU Detroit Diesels (UK) Ltd., and the departure of GNER’s rolling stock projects manager Magnus Conn. Both were the joint architects of the contract.