19.02.20
Northern reaches milestone in new train introduction
Following a £500m investment in rail in the north of England, this week nine new trains were integrated into Arriva Rail North’s fleet.
75 per cent of the 101 trains ordered are now transporting Northern customers, travelling to more than 140 stations across the region.
The new trains began operating last summer and since the launch of the first one, more than five million passengers’ journeys have been made on the Class 195 and Class 331 trains.
In the beginning the new trains faced some challenges but they are now just as reliable and efficient as the current Northern fleet.
The new state-of-the-art trains feature free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, at-seat power and customer information and media screens with real-time information. The trains are also more spacious and fully accessible, with spaces for wheelchairs and cycles.
Managing Director of Arriva Rail UK, Chris Burchell, said: “I am delighted that our ambitious new trains project is 75 per cent complete, and we are on schedule to have all 101 trains in service by May this year. The new trains are truly transformational and it’s great that more than five million journeys have already been made on Northern in more comfort and with more state-of-the-art technology than ever before.
“I want to acknowledge the team and colleagues at Northern who have worked expertly and professionally – in sometimes challenging circumstances – to get us to this point. It is not easy to introduce brand new trains and there is a tremendous amount of unseen work and preparation in the background. Colleagues have done a magnificent job and I want to thank them on behalf of Arriva for their hard work and continued commitment to delivering the improvements our customers deserve.”
Northern’s Deputy Managing Director, Richard Allan, said: “The Northern network is busier than it has been for a generation – more than 108 million journeys were made on Northern services in 2019 and we are committed to delivering a 21st Century railway for those customers.
“The introduction of new trains is at the heart of this transformation. These fantastic trains are a true step-change in travelling experience and we are extremely proud to have introduced 75 brand new trains, with all 101 scheduled to be carrying passengers by the end of May.”
Images: Northern Rail