Rail operator Northern is investigating the financing regarding the purchasing of 20 additional CAF trains.
An official notification has been issued, with the procurement exercise set to help develop a business case to support hybrid trains operating across the Pennines.
Northern currently operates 101 CAF units in the form of 43 Class 331s electric multiple units, which operate in Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, and 58 Class 195 diesel multiple units, which operate in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and on Trans-Pennine routes between Blackpool and York.
The rail operator says since the Class 195s were introduced three years ago, the trains have performed well and customers are pleased with them.
A spokesperson for Northern told RailAdvent “We can confirm that we are in the very early stages of investigating the financing of an additional 20 CAF built trains and an official notification has been issued for such.
“Northern's c195 fleet of trains were first introduced three years ago and are performing extremely well and our customers are really pleased with them.
“The procurement exercise will allow us to develop a business case to support new hybrid trains operating across the Pennines.”
We have approached Northern for confirmation of whether these hybrid trains will be diesel-battery or battery-electric trains and what routes they will operate on.
What do you think of this? Let us know in the comments below.
Northern’s oldest rolling stock is the Class 150 which does not run on the Halifax to Hull Service. The oldest train that does it is the Class 155 but those are rarely on.
Which is why CAF could manufacture more Class 195 and Class 331 Civity units and to upgrade the Class 195 from diesel to hydrogen and to add batteries onto the Class 331 electric MU.
Hopefully they will start the trains that go from crowle to doncaster again as the coach service is apoaling as my son as waited for coaches that hasn’t turned up and they refused is train pass as well
Should be battery-electric if they’re running under the wires.
Class 331 would be beneficial for being upgraded to have batteries fitted for short distance non-electrified journeys.
The logic of electric/battery bi mode is blinding. This would allow a superior train to work across the whole network and possibly open up new routes without having to change trains. Eventually the wires may get extended over the North and at least there will be trains already in operation to take advantage of this..
Fingers crossed they’ll be deployed on the Halifax – Hull service replacing what now will be Northern’s oldest rolling stock
great idea
I have information saying they will operate on the section of the TransPennie Express route that is getting upgraded. I have been told that the units will be fitted with the European standard of signalling equipment which is currently not in operation with any of Northern’s trains
195s and 331s are already fitted with ERTMS technology but it’s not been activated. Ready and waiting for if/when the times comes for it to be used.