More Thameslink-bound Class 700s arrive in the UK

The 52nd Class 700 from an order of 115 was delivered to Three Bridges depot on March 20.

Eight-car 700013 followed 700044 which arrived on March 15, and 700046, which was delivered on March 8.

The dual-voltage electric multiple units are being built by Siemens at Krefeld (Germany), and tested at Wildenrath before being dispatched to the UK for use by Govia Thameslink Railway.

This means that 45% of the fleet ordered by the Department for Transport has now been delivered to the UK - 37 eight-car Class 700/0s (296 vehicles) and 15 12-car Class 700/1 (180 vehicles). That is the equivalent of 119 four-car EMUs that they are replacing.

The ‘700s’ are replacing 86 four-car Class 319s, 27 four-car Class 377/5s and 29 four-car Class 387/1s on Thameslink (568 vehicles). Total fleet size of the ‘700’ order is 1,140 vehicles - they are needed when the Thameslink operation increases to 24 trains per hour through the Core section between St Pancras International and Blackfriars, and when it starts to serve new destinations including Peterborough and Cambridge.

Siemens is currently delivering 40 eight-car Class 700/0s, with 700001/011/022/026/034/035/ 041-043 to be delivered in the current batch.

When this is completed, 30 12-car Class 700/1s will be sent to the UK (700116-700145), followed by 12 ‘700/0s’ (700047-700058). The final batch of ten ‘700/1s’ will then arrive (700146-700155), before the final two eight-cars (700059/060) are delivered.

Deliveries are weekly, with a RAIL source explaining that a further 74 trains must be delivered by May 2018.