Bombardier has begun static testing of the first new Electrostar carriage for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).
Bombardier is building 27 four-car Class 387/2 EMUs – a derivative of the Class 387 which currently operates on the Thameslink route – for Gatwick Express, which will be absorbed by GTR on July 26.
The new trains will enter service in 2016 and replace the Class 442 EMUs, which arrived on the network in the late 1980s.
Angie Doll, the new passenger service director for Gatwick Express, said: “This is a key milestone in the journey to brand new trains for Gatwick Express.
“The benefits our passengers will receive will also be felt by those travelling from Brighton, as in the off-peak some of these trains will be extended to this station.”
The Class 387/2 will feature extra luggage space, power sockets, air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
As well as the new Gatwick Express trains, GTR will soon start to receive the first of 1,140 Class 700 carriages from Siemens. There are also plans to procure 25 new six-car metro trains to replace the Class 313 stock currently operating services into Moorgate.
So the 27x Class 387/2’s could be in service early next year with the Class 442’s to be scrapped and 8x Class 387/3’s to also be built and to be in service next year aswell. About time.
Or they could be completed being built in March/April next year with the Class 387/3’s to be completed in late 2016.
Or they could be built in March/April next year with the Class 387/3’s to be built in late 2016 or in early 2017.
No, the Class 387/2 and /3 fleets will not be entering full service until 2017. At least six of the Class 442s will be retained for Eastbourne peak services. Please read up on the plans if you’re going to comment…
So the Class 387/2’s & 387/3’s won’t be built next year but in 2017. Why 2 years.
No. Clearly the 387/2s are being built at the moment. They have to be tested once they’re built, just like every other train.
Well in that case. I be quiet as I got the facts wrong by an expert.
From the train expert.
Ok. So it may not be built until next year.
Why do I need to plan before I comment.
Because you’re getting your facts wrong…
Right.
There is some suggestion in the TPE ITT (p.93) that the 442s may be going up north – presumably to be operated in push-pull mode with diesel or electric locos, as these units are 750V DC only.
I believe that suggestion has been dismissed as part of the usual “rumour-mill”.