New 51-strong fleet for Transpennine Express

Passengers had their first opportunity in March to travel aboard the first of a new fleet of trains built for the First Transpennine Express Network.

The Pennine Class 185 will on three of the twelve daily return services between Manchester Piccadilly and Hull.

The fleet of 51 new 100 mph trains, being built by Siemens Transportation Systems, represents a £250 million investment in rail travel for the north of England. They will be delivered to the UK in a rolling programme throughout 2006 and the full fleet is expected to be in service by the end of January 2007.

The Pennine Class 185 is the first diesel version of the proven Siemens Desiro electric train design and the trains will have air conditioning, intercity train quality seating, including a first class section, on-board security cameras and easier access for disabled people, with space for two wheelchairs and a wheelchair accessible toilet.

A new GPS communication based information system will keep passengers up to date throughout their journey. Equipped with three Cumins diesel engines, the trains will have excellent hill-climbing abilities and much improved reliability. The trains will run in three and six-car formations.

When the entire fleet is in service, 153 new Class 185 train carriages will have been introduced onto the Transpennine Express network to replace the 139 carriages currently in service.

The new fleet of trains will be owned by HSBC Rail who will lease the Class 185 trains to First Transpennine Express for the duration of its franchise which runs to February 2012.

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