First train in Northern’s new £500m rail fleet arrives in UK

The first of rail operator Northern’s 98 new trains has landed in the UK.

The diesel train was this week (June 25) transported from Spain to Royal Portbury Dock in Bristol, where it will be moved by lorry to Merseyside.

The vehicle will undergo finishing work over the coming weeks before it enters testing on the rail network.

Northern said it will be followed in a few weeks by the first of its new electric trains.

The £500m of new trains under construction form the centrepiece of a wider modernisation plan.

The firm has also committed to removing its old Pacer trains, refurbishing others and introducing more services by 2020.

Features of the new carriages include air conditioning, seat-based power sockets, free Wi-Fi and an electronic seat reservation system.

They are being built by Spanish manufacturer CAF and will be owned by Eversholt Rail.

Northern’s engineering director, Ben Ackroyd, said: “Getting the train onto UK soil is a major milestone in our modernisation programme.

“Northern’s engineering and operations teams have worked hard to produce a design that will deliver a real improvement in our customers’ on-board experience.”

He added: “I’m excited to see the first of them go into service at the end of the year.”

Eversholt Rail CEO Mary Kenny commented: “As owners of this new fleet of Class 195 trains, we are excited about moving into the next phase of the project and look forward to working together with our partners Northern and CAF on the UK commissioning and testing of these new trains.”

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