British Rail Class 710

British Rail Class 710 Aventra

Artist's impression of Class 710 unit
In service May 2018
Manufacturer Bombardier Transportation
Built at Derby Litchurch Lane
Family name Aventra
Number under construction 45 trainsets
Formation 4 carriages per trainset
Operator(s) London Overground
Line(s) served
Specifications
Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph) (assumed)
Electric system(s)
Current collection method Pantograph (AC),
Contact shoe (DC)
Safety system(s) AWS / TPWS
Coupling system Dellner
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Class 710 is a development of Bombardier's Aventra electric multiple unit design that is due to be built for London Overground. The contract to provide 45 four-car 75 mph (121 km/h) trains was awarded to Bombardier Transportation in July 2015 and the trains are due to enter service in 2018.

History

Background and specifications

In 2012, TfL announced its intention to procure a fleet of new, longer DMUs, as the Class 172 units then in service were unable to handle the passenger demand, causing overcrowding throughout the day. TfL issued a tender for manufacturers to supply eight three- or four-car trains.[1] However, this proposal was subsequently shelved when the Government announced that the Gospel Oak to Barking line would be electrified, with proposals instead to purchase a fleet of new EMUs.

TfL invited expressions of interest for a total of 39 four-car EMUs in April 2014, with 30 required for the Cheshunt and Chingford routes, 8 for the Gospel Oak to Barking, and 1 for the Romford to Upminster.[2] Since then the planned procurement has been increased to 45 four-car EMUs, with the additional 6 units intended for the Watford DC Line. The intention is that the five-car Class 378 trains currently used on the Watford route will be cascaded back to the North London and East London Lines to allow for strengthened services. TfL issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) in early 2015, and in June 2015 announced that Bombardier had been awarded the contract to build the new trains.[3]

In July 2015 TfL announced that it had placed a £260m order for 45 4-car Bombardier Aventra EMUs, with an option for 24 more, similar to the Class 345s that will be used by Crossrail, for use on the West Anglia Routes and the Watford DC, GOBLIN and Romford to Upminster lines, from 2018, to be known as Class 710.[4] The units will be delivered in two sub-classes; an AC only version with longitudinal and transverse seating (very similar to the S8 units on the Metropolitan line of the London Underground) for use on the West Anglia and Romford-Upminster services, and a dual-voltage version with longitudinal seating for the Watford DC and GOBLIN services. The AC only version will be maintained at Ilford TMD and the dual-voltage units at Willesden TMD.[5]

Fleet details

A total of 45 units totalling 180 carriages are to be built.

Class Operator No. Built Year Built Cars per Set Unit nos.
Class 710/1 London Overground 31 TBC 4 710101–710131
Class 710/2 14 710201–710214

See also

References

  1. ↑ "TfL seeks new Barking line trains as two-car '172s' struggle". Rail (697). Peterborough. 30 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "More EMUs for London Overground". Railway Gazette. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Bombardier wins London Overground EMU contract". Railway Gazette. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "London Overground Train Operating Concession" (PDF). tfl.gov.uk. Transport for London Finance and Policy Committee. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016. ...with the introduction of a new fleet of Class 710 trains (the LOTRAIN)...
  5. ↑ Rail Magazine, Issue 778, Page 14
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