Class 717s
The first Siemens six-car dual-voltage Desiro City Class 717 carries passengers on the Great Northern network
The first Class 717 carried passengers on the Great Northern network on September 28.
The six-car dual-voltage Desiro City (717007), built by Siemens in Krefeld (Germany), ran from Moorgate to Gordon Hill. The remaining 24 sets will enter traffic in a phased introduction between now and next spring.
They provide 27% additional capacity compared with the Class 313s they will replace. The older EMUs date from 1976-77.
The Class 717s are funded by Rock Rail Moorgate (a joint venture between Rock Rail Holdings and Aberdeen Standard Investments) in a £240 million deal. They feature air-conditioning, power sockets and WiFi.
The trains will be used on the GN network from Moorgate to Stevenage, Hertford North and Welwyn Garden City. Each ‘717’ has capacity for 943 passengers, for which there are 362 seats (including 64 priority seats and 15 tip-ups).
GTR Director of Engineering Gerry McFadden said: “They will all be the maximum length for this route. As well as air-conditioning, power points, and free WiFi, there are realtime passenger information screens to make travelling with Great Northern a much more comfortable and convenient experience.”
He said the wide doors and Class 700-style interiors will help GTR serve a route that has nearly doubled in users in the past 14 years. The trains will be maintained at Hornsey. GTR confirmed that all 25 sets have been built, with six in the UK (717003/005/007-010) and the rest undergoing testing in Germany.
The ‘717s’ are fitted with an emergency exit door (with extending ladder) at the front, with an extending ladder from the driver’s cab. Additionally, the main internal differences between a ‘700’ and a ‘717’ are an additional priority seat per doorway in place of luggage area (although there are overhead racks), a power socket per seat pair and no first class area.
They also have passenger information systems that include updates on London Underground routes, as well as more visible grab handles and two wheelchair spaces.