Progress on new train fleets continues

While many fleets are currently being delivered, construction is under way on even more new trains.

Bombardier is building Aventras for South Western Railway (750 vehicles) and West Midlands Trains (333 vehicles), and will soon start work on 60 units for c2c. It has almost completed the final Class 345s for Crossrail, while the final Class 710s are also in production for London Overground.

WMT is also due to take delivery of CAF Class 196 diesel multiple units from next year, with these being assembled in Newport (south Wales). Some 80 vehicles are on order, and their delivery will enable Class 170s to move to East Midlands Railway. AF is also building some 77 DMUs for Transport for Wales, which are due for delivery from 2021.

Swiss manufacturer Stadler will complete its Greater Anglia order in the next few months, while the first of its 52 four-car Class 777s that are destined for Merseyrail is about to begin testing at Erlen (Switzerland). The EMUs will also be fitted with batteries to enable them to operate away from the third-rail at depots.

Stadler also has contracts to build 11 four-car bi-modes, 24 tri-modes and 36 tram-trains for Transport of Wales, with delivery of these fleets due to commence until 2021.

As this issue of RAIL went to press, the first of five bi-mode Class 802/3s for Hull Trains was due to leave Hitachi’s Italian facility at Pistoia.

• For the FULL story, read RAIL 886, published on August 28, and available digitally on Android, iPad and Kindle now.