Northern sets dates for introduction of new DMUs

TWO Class 195 diesel multiple units are due to enter traffic with Northern before Christmas, with a third in service by the end of the year.

There are currently four ‘195s’ in the UK - one two-car set (195001) and three three-car sets (195103/105/107). The latest was delivered on October 25.

CAF is building the 55 DMUs for Northern, as well as 43 electric multiple units (funded by Eversholt Rail, in what is the Spanish builder’s largest ever European order).

Of the EMUs, three-car 331001 and four-car 331102 are in the UK. They are all being constructed in Spain (at Beasain, Irun and Zaragoza), and all will be in the UK by December 2019.All 98 trains are being delivered to Edge Hill for testing and commissioning.

Testing has also been carried out at Velim (Czech Republic) using 195101 and 331101, while

the ‘195’ also went to Faurei (Romania), where further track capacity was available.

Northern Project Manager Garry Bartie told RAIL that the deliveries of trains are made using a weekly chartered ship from Bilbao (Spain) to Portbury (near Bristol). They are then delivered by road to the Merseyside facility.

Bartie explained that the Alstom depot is being used as work is being carried out at Newton Heath and Allerton to prepare the sites for the trains. The former depot is having a new shed and wheel lathe installed, while the latter will have a new bogie drop facility.

He said it’s expected that one two-car and one three-car DMU would be the first to be introduced. He denied that DMUs are being introduced first because of concerns over electrification in the North West (should it be delivered in December, then the Bolton Corridor wiring scheme will be two years late), adding that testing of the first EMU only began on October 15.

Northern is still working on the first routes on which the Class 195s and ‘331s’ will be used.

Testing is needed for the trains on the routes where they will be used. This includes gauging, step boards and cameras that will be used by drivers.

RICHARD CLINNICK. Northern 195103 stands at Edge Hill on October 22, having undergone coupler testing. Two Class 195s built by CAF will enter traffic with the operator in December, with a third following by the end of the year.

RICHARD CLINNICK. Two-car 195001 stands at Edge Hill on October 22. The diesel multiple unit is one of four in the UK, and was the first CAF Civity delivered to the country, arriving in June.