Firstgroup and MTR roll out £900m contract for new South Western trains
● Aventra fleet to be manufactured in Derby by Bombardier Transportation
A near-£900 million order for new trains has been signed by Scottish transport giant Firstgroup and MTR, the new operators of one of the UK’S busiest rail franchises.
The 750 carriages, made up of five-and ten-car formations, on the South Western network will provide a 46 per cent increase in peak capacity on suburban routes into London Waterloo.
The new fleet of Aventra trains will be manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in Derby and are due to come into service from mid-2019 through to the end of 2020.
Aberdeen-headquartered Firstgroup and MTR included the plans for the rolling stock in their winning bid for the South Western franchise, which is due to start on 20 August, taking over from Perth-based Stagecoach.
Steve Montgomery, managing director of First Rail, said: “We have exciting plans for the South Western rail franchise and these new trains are an important step on the way to delivering an improved journey experience for our passengers. We know from listening to passengers and stakeholders that, alongside improved performance, what they want to see is additional seats and we will deliver this via these state-of-the-art trains.”
Richard Hunter, UK managing director of Bombardier Transportation, said the contract “demonstrates further confidence placed in this market leading rolling stock, designed and built in Britain”.
He added: “Aventra offers enhanced performance and increased passenger capacity, which will play an important part in helping First/mtr satisfy continued levels of passenger growth on the South Western network.”
The £895m new fleet will offer free Wi-fi, at-seat charging points, information screens, air conditioning, wide gangways and wide doors. The trains will operate on the Windsor, Reading and West London suburban routes.
Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: “There is an agreement in place on South West Trains that there will be no extension of driveronly operation and no threat to guards’ jobs or roles, and that agreement transfers with the undertaking to the First MTR South Western franchise.
“That agreement also holds good regardless of the new fleet procurement and the announcement on the new trains. RMT has written to First MTR calling for a clear assurance, by 3 July, that there will be no interference with the current agreement on driver-only operation and that it will be honoured by the new franchise holder.”