Derby-based Bombardier Transportation has signed an LTSA (long-term service agreement) with Hoppecke Industrial Batteries, which has a UK base in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The German group is a ‘preferred supplier’ of railway battery systems to Bombardier (around 50% of the latter’s trains are fitted with Hoppecke batteries).

Bombardier uses LTSAs to assure its suppliers that “they are a bit more than that”, according to Richard Jackson, senior buyer at Bombardier Transportation.

He added: “The LTSA is all about working together to form positive synergies and improvements for both businesses. In challenging times, it is good to have strong commitments on both sides; the suppliers have assurances that we will continue to work with them, and they promise to hold their prices for us.”

Jason Howlett, Hoppecke UK’s managing director, said: “Signing an LTSA with a company as massive as Bombardier is something we are all delighted with.

“It underlines the efforts that everyone at Hoppecke is making to provide top-quality customer service and deliver the very best products, backed up by unrivalled maintenance services.”