Revealed, Northern’s new 100mph swap for Pacers
NORTHERN Rail have revealed how their new 100mph trains will look.
The new trains, the first of which are expected to be in service by December, will be able to travel at up to 100mph and are fully accessible.
Once completed, the fleet of 98 trains will replace the operator’s 30-year-old ‘Pacers,’ which campaigners say are too small and not fit for purpose .
The first completed new train came off the production line earlier this year. A video released by Northern shows one of the new Class 331 trains, which are currently being track-tested, taking part in a trial run. It also gives a glimpse inside the carriages, with seats in the company’s trademark blue. Transport chiefs say the new trains will be capable of travelling at 100mph. The carriages will have wifi, plug sockets at every seat, will be air conditioned and fully accessible. Northern bosses have promised ‘improved passenger journeys’ after months of delays and cancellations, exacerbated in May by the launch of a new timetable. The Class 195 and Class 331 trains, built by CAF and owned by Eversholt Rail, are now going through their first round of testing on the UK rail network.
This will continue into the autumn as Northern prepares to launch the first carriages by the end of the year.
Northern are also refurbishing 243 trains as well as upgrading more than 400 stations. The operator has promised that all Pacers – an outdated train maligned by many passengers – will be gone by 2020.
See the video at manchestereveningnews.co.uk