More ‘700s’ arrive, while ETCS testing continues

There are now 17 Siemens Class 700s in the UK, after eight-car 700006 was delivered to Three Bridges in the early hours of June 8.

It followed 12-car 700104 which arrived at Three Bridges depot from Germany on June 1.

The dual-voltage electric multiple units are due to enter traffic imminently, although at the launch for the trains on May 24, Govia Thameslink Railway could not give a firm date ( RAIL 802).

The delay is understood to be down to software being installed, but this is nearly complete. Testing of the trains is well under way, and two EMUs are being used for testing European Train Control System (ETCS) on the Hertford Loop line, ahead of the introduction of ETCS on the Thameslink route on which the trains will operate.

Siemens has currently delivered 12 12-car Class 700s (700102-104/ 106-114) and five eight-car trains (700002-700006), meaning that 184 vehicles (of the 1,140-vehicle order) are now in the UK. This is the equivalent of 46 four-car Class 319s currently used on the TL network, and represents 16% of the entire £1.1 billion order. The last deliveries are due in 2018.

The trains are currently based at Three Bridges, but Siemens’ facility at Hornsey will open in July, enabling more to be stabled and based at the North London depot.

Three Bridges will remain the hub of operations, while more of the trains are also stabled at Cricklewood as deliveries continue.

The introduction of the Class 700s will enable Govia Thameslink Railway to remove Class 319s from traffic, with 12 heading to Northern Rail initially. Class 387s that were to be cascaded to Great Western Railway will now remain with GTR.