Great Western Railway Class 387s begin main line tests

The first two electric multiple units for Great Western Railway have begun testing ahead of delivery.

Built by Bombardier at Derby Litchurch Lane, 387130 and 387131 have moved to Bletchley for commissioning. Operating in a pair, they have been tested on AC power on the West Coast Main Line and DC power to Brighton. Although they are dual-voltage, the Class 387/1s will not be used by GWR on third-rail routes.

The four-car, 110mph EMUs are the first of eight to be delivered by Bombardier. They were ordered by GWR in March 2015, and will enter traffic between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington from September 5.

The ‘387/1s’ will be maintained by GWR at Reading Traincare Depot, and these two will be followed by a further six by September (387132-387137). From April 2017, GWR will begin to take delivery of a further 37 Class 387/1s, which were ordered recently ( RAIL 803). These will be used on the Thames Valley route when it is energised and electric trains are operating.

The introduction of the Class 387/1s will enable GWR to increase capacity on the Thames Valley lines, as well as the length of trains operating, with two and three vehicle diesel multiple units being able to run as four-car EMUs.

GWR plans to send Class 165/166 Thames Turbo DMUs, made redundant by the introduction of the EMUs, to the Bristol region, enabling a cascade of Class 150 and Class 158s further west to Devon and Cornwall. Great Western Railway 387131 leads 387130 through Kensington Olympia on July 14, with the return of the 0836 Bletchley-Bletchley via Brighton. This test trip was required for the Electrostar’s DC third-rail equipment.