Twelve-car Class 700s make Great Northern debut
CLASS 700s started running from Peterborough for Govia Thameslink Railway on November 6.
Twelve-car 700125 and 700128 were the first to be used on GTR’s Great Northern trains. The electric multiple units are being introduced gradually, and will start using the Canal Tunnel to link with the Thameslink network and Gatwick Airport from May.
The first trains operated on the GN route by Class 700s are the 0656 and 0733 PeterboroughLondon King’s Cross and the 1742 and 1812 return. GTR is replacing 75% of the GN fleet with ‘700s’.
On the first day, 700128 made the debut for the class from Peterborough, working the 0656 Peterborough-London King’s Cross. It was booked to work the 1812 return, while 700125 worked the 0733 Peterborough-London King’s Cross and was booked to work the 1742 return. However, the returns were cancelled on the first day owing to delays on the East Coast Main Line caused by a fatality.
The first King’s Cross departure was worked by 700125 on November 7, with the 1742 to Peterborough.
GTR Engineering Director Gerry McFadden said: “These first new Thameslink trains on the Great Northern route are a shape of things to come and feature the latest in technology.
“Their introduction is part of a broader fleet modernisation programme that has seen most of our older trains withdrawn and new trains introduced to Cambridge, Peterborough and King’s Lynn. This will continue into next year with new trains on the Moorgate line.
“At GTR we’re modernising the railway, and starting in May we’ll be giving passengers longer trains and more services to provide vital added seats on a route that has had a 70% increase in passenger numbers in just 14 years.”
Railfuture East Anglia Branch Chairman Nick Dibben said: “Many commuters will have seen these new trains in the sidings in recent
months, so will be looking forward to trying them out in real life.”
Vernon Barker, Managing Director for Rail Systems at Siemens, said: “The Class 700 trains are some of the most advanced trains operating in the UK and are increasingly delivering more comfortable and reliable journeys in and out of London.”
A new timetable will be introduced in phases from May 2018, providing significant capacity increases into London in the morning peak.
The Class 700s were ordered by Government in a £1 billion deal for the Thameslink Programme. There are 1,140 vehicles on order across 115 EMUs. They have already taken over all Thameslink services.
So far 700125/128/139/140 are in traffic for GN. Two more units are stored at Spittal Sidings in Peterborough (700111/116). These are not yet for traffic, although 700111 has been used on the TL system. @Clinnick1