27.09.16
GTR completes Gatwick Express fleet renewal
The renewal of the Gatwick Express fleet has now been completed, with a fleet of 27 Class 387/2 Electrostars introduced on the route after a seven month fleet renewal programme.
The £145m trains feature two-by-two seating with more leg room and under-seat storage capacity, power sockets, free wi-fi, real-time passenger service information, accessible toilets and wheelchair space.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates the Gatwick Express route, also said it will introduce 29 Class 387/1 variant trains on the Great Northern route from October. These will give the route its first-ever air-conditioned service.
Gerry McFadden, GTR’s engineering director, said: “These trains mark a real step-change in comfort and travelling experience for our passengers.
“On Gatwick Express, they replace 30-year-old rolling stock that wasn’t really suited to the airport market. The 387s have two double doors per carriage so passengers can get on and off quicker and more easily, more luggage space and they accelerate faster.
“On Great Northern the 387/1s, which have already proved themselves on Thameslink for the past year, will replace our Class 317 and 321s that are 28 and 35 years old respectively. Passengers won’t fail to be impressed both by their interiors and their reliability.
“These are the first of three modern trains we’re bringing onto Great Northern where, over a few short years, we’ll be moving from one of the oldest fleets in the country to one of the newest.”
GTR added that about half its 40 Class 365 trains will remain and these are going through a £30m refurbishment programme.
In total, 29 4-car Class 387/1s will be steadily introduced on to the Great Northern route starting from next month as GTR’s new Class 700 come into service. The Class 700s will run to and from Peterborough and Cambridge and link into the Thameslink route at St Pancras International in 2018, and the Class 717 trains will operate the Moorgate services from 2019.
The Class 387/1s are already in service on the Bedford-Brighton Thameslink line, and will run between Cambridge and King’s Lynn from next year, subject to Network Rail infrastructure work.
Great Northern is planning to extend the King’s Cross to Cambridge services to Ely in 2017, again allowing for Network Rail work, and stopping services from King’s Lynn to Cambridge would also call at the new Cambridge North station from next year. Ultimately, Cambridge North will have four services an hour by 2019.
The company was originally planning to transfer 17 Class 377s from Thameslink to Greater Northern, but is now able to use the 387s instead, which can travel at 110mph instead of 100mph.
The Class 387s have also been procured by c2c and Great Western Railway. GTR announced yesterday that chief operating officer Dyan Crowther is leaving the company, which has faced persistent delays in recent months.
(Images c. GTR)
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