05.09.16
First Electrostars enter service on Great Western Railway
The first Class 387 Electrostars entered into general service on the Great Western Railway (GWR) line today.
The first two trains will operate eight services a day between Hayes & Harlington and London Paddington, in eight-car formations.
The trains will eventually be introduced across the busy Thames Valley route, replacing the current Turbos, which will redeployed on other GWR routes.
Mark Hopwood, managing director of GWR, said: “The Thames Valley is one of the most popular rail corridors in the UK.
“We have promised the current fleet would be upgraded to provide much needed additional capacity and faster journey times, and I am delighted to say the first of these new electric trains will come into service in just a matter of days.”
The trains are leased from rolling stock company Porterbrook, which supplies Electrostars to Thameslink, Gatwick Express and c2c as well as GWR.
In June, Porterbrook announced that it was purchasing 92 more Electrostar vehicles for GWR, bringing the company’s total fleet to 180.
The trains will feature at-seat power sockets, air conditioning, extra luggage space and free WiFi.
Paul Maynard, the new minister for rail, said: “We are making the biggest investment in the railways since the Victorian era to modernise the network and deliver better journeys.
“The introduction of Great Western Railway’s first new Class 387 trains built by Bombardier in Derby is a great example of our investment. It will offer more seats, greater comfort and better reliability for passengers.”
(Image c. Great Western Railway)
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