Main line testing of new TPE Mk 5As under way

TESTING of TransPennine Express Mk 5A coaches has begun on the national network.

The first rake to travel on the main line was TPE02, which ran from Manchester International depot (where the sets are based) to Rugby on August 28. The test was supposed to run to Bletchley, but late running of the train forced it to return early. The next day, TPE02 ran to Carlisle.

Power was provided by 68020 Reliance, and the coaches were Trailer First (TF) 11802, Trailer Standards (TS) 12704-12706 and Driving Trailer Standard (DTS) 12802. This was the first of the four rakes currently in the UK to have been delivered by manufacturer CAF.

These initial runs are to ‘bed in’ the coaches prior to completion of final type testing. The majority of the type testing has been carried out at Velim (Czech Republic), where TPE01 was tested for several months ( RAIL 851).

Prior to the coaches entering traffic, TPE will be working with CAF (which built the coaches) and Freightliner Heavy Haul (which is contracted to drive the test trains) to complete verification checks at locations where the ‘68/Mk 5A’ sets will call.

These checks including stopping positions, wheelchair deployment, and confirming Automatic Selective Door Operation (ASDO) plans.

Training of TPE drivers on the Class 68s has begun, and the operator told RAIL that on-board staff training will follow once type testing is complete.

It is planned that the first sets will enter traffic before the end of the year on the Liverpool Lime Street-Scarborough route ( RAIL understands two sets will be in traffic initially), before later serving Middlesbrough. Eventually, they will also serve Manchester Airport.

While the 13 rakes of Mk 5As will be based at Manchester International depot (the former Eurostar regional depot that was never used by the international operator), they will also be stabled overnight in York and Scarborough, and work has started at both Yorkshire sites ahead of the introduction of the trains.

A fifth rake of stock is due in September. Currently in the UK are TF 11801-11804, TS 12701-12712 and DTS 12801-12804. Each set is permanently coupled.

Meanwhile, testing of Hitachi Rail five-car bi-mode 802201 continues on the East Coast Main Line. The Class 802/2 is currently based at the Japanese firm’s Doncaster Carr depot and is being tested by GB Railfreight, carrying out mileage accumulation.

RAIL sources have explained that this process has been made much easier following the initial testing of Great Western Railway Class 802s.

A second ‘802/2’ (802202) was delivered to Doncaster Carr depot on August 30, having been built in Kasado (Japan).

At Velim, testing of CAF-built 397001 continues ahead of delivery. A second set will be delivered to the site in September (397002), while 397003/004 will undertake testing from October at the ADIF test track in northern Spain (which CAF recently won a deal to develop and operate).

The first Class 397 is due in the UK in November, following testing at Velim.