GEC-Alsthom/CAF

GEC-Alsthom/CAF is used in this encyclopedia for the joint venture between GEC-Alsthom (UK/France) and CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) of Spain on certain UK rolling stock contracts during the late 1990s and early 2000s, including elements of the early Voyager and Coradia families ordered by Virgin CrossCountry and Arriva Trains.

The joint venture allowed GEC-Alsthom to draw on CAF’s Spanish manufacturing capacity for high-volume body shells and bogie work while retaining UK design control of the running gear and electrical systems. The arrangement effectively ended when GEC-Alsthom rebranded to Alstom in 1998 and the rail business consolidated under that single brand.