Transport for London has unveiled the first new, British-built, London Overground train. The new trains see a range of new features and will be in passenger service by November.
The new Class 710 trains include intelligent temperature control, as well as WiFi, USB charging and real-time travel information.
The fleet of 54 new trains will change train journeys for thousands of passengers and will initially come into service on the Gospel Oak to Barking route.
The new trains are being built at Bombardier Transport's Derby site where 120 local staff have been working on the testing of the train. Furthermore, 170 staff have been employed to work on the manufacturing of the trains.
London Overground is operated by Arriva Rail London on behalf of Transport for London and will feature the new colour scheme and seat moquette.
The first eight new trains will be introduced on the electrified Gospel Oak to Barking line by November and will replace the existing diesel trains operating on the line.
The new trains will also be introduced onto the Watford to London Euston route and on services out of London Liverpool Street.
What did the officials say?
Jonathan Fox, TfL's Director of Rail and Sponsored Services, said:
“Our new state-of-the-art British built London Overground trains will be an exciting addition to London's transport network and help boost capacity on some of the most busy and popular lines. We are very keen to see them introduced into service as soon as possible so our patient customers can benefit from the fully air-conditioned, walk-through trains with handy USB charging points and real-time passenger information screens. Over the summer, the new trains will undergo final rigorous testing and drivers will complete extensive training. We are now planning for the first trains to enter passenger service on the Gospel Oak to Barking route by November.
Andy Derbyshire, Head of UK, Bombardier Transportation said:
“This is a fantastic project to be involved in, and we are looking forward to our state-of-the-art British-designed and -built trains helping transform journeys between Gospel Oak and Barking, between Watford and Euston, and on West Anglia routes from Liverpool Street.”
Will Rogers, Managing Director of Arriva Rail London, said:
“The London Overground is vitally important to the thousands of people who use it every day. This is why we are focused on continuously improving the travelling experience for our customers and working environment for our people. Our team has been working hard to prepare for the introduction of these new trains and we are really excited about the benefits they will bring in the long-term.”
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Will London Overground retain just 1 Class 315 for the Romford-Upminster branch line for short time. Or will the branch line see the new Class 710 train to operate between Romford-Upminster from November. With possible platform extensions at Romford platform 1, Upminster platform 6 and possible platform extension at Emerson Park. In time for the Class 710 train to be used on the branch line in East London.
A great looking train!
Brilliant news to hear about the Class 710 Aventra. The routes on what the new Class 710’s will be operated on will replace the Class 172’s Turbostar, Class 315’s and Class 317’s EMU’s that are 30-40 years old and will provide better & reliable services once the Class 710’s are in service. And to transfer the Class 378’s to boost capacity on the East London Line with some to be kept on the North London Line and West London Line. The routes that the Class 710’s will be operated on are:
Gospel Oak-Barking (extended to Barking Riverside from 2021)
Romford-Upminster
Lea Valley metro (Liverpool Street-Cheshunt, Liverpool Street-Chingford and League Liverpool Street-Enfield Town)
Euston-Watford Junction DC
North London Line Stratford-Richmond, Willesden Junction & Clapham Junction
and West London Line Willesden Junction-Clapham Junction
And to transfer the Class 172’s to West Midlands Trains to operate them on the Coventry-Nuneaton & Coventry-Leamington Spa routes.
so are you saying that the Class 378s weren’t new?
or weren’t built in Britain?
or weren’t built for London Overground?
Or are you just demonstrating a poor grasp of the English language? These are the LATEST new British-built trains for London Overground. And whilst waving the Union Flag, let’s remember that Bombardier is Canadian owned and Arriva is German owned.