A brand new London Overground train was unveiled by Transport for London earlier today and will begin running between Barking and Gospel Oak from November.
The ‘Class 710’ trains include Wi-Fi, USB charging points, the latest intelligent lighting, temperature control as well as digital information screens.
A fleet of 54 new air-conditioned trains will come into service initially on the Gospel Oak to Barking route.
The trains are being built at Bombardier Transport’s UK site in Derby where 120 local engineering staff have worked on the design and testing of the trains.
Final approval of the work carried out by Network Rail to electrify the Gospel Oak to Barking route was completed last week and the new trains will now be tested on this new infrastructure over the summer to prove they meet TfL’s stringent safety and reliability requirements.
Jonathan Fox, TfL’s Director of Rail and Sponsored Services, said: “Our new state-of-the-art British built London Overground trains will be an exciting addition to London’s transport network and help boost capacity on some of the most busy and popular lines. We are very keen to see them introduced into service as soon as possible so our patient customers can benefit from the fully air-conditioned, walk-through trains with handy USB charging points and real-time passenger information screens. Over the summer, the new trains will undergo final rigorous testing and drivers will complete extensive training. We are now planning for the first trains to enter passenger service on the Gospel Oak to Barking route by November.”
The new Class 710 London Overground trains being built and tested at Bombardier in Derby
Andy Derbyshire, Head of UK, Bombardier Transportation said: “This is a fantastic project to be involved in, and we are looking forward to our state-of-the-art British-designed and -built trains helping transform journeys between Gospel Oak and Barking, between Watford and Euston, and on West Anglia routes from Liverpool Street.”
Will Rogers, Managing Director Arriva Rail London, said: “The London Overground is vitally important to the thousands of people who use it every day. This is why we are focused on continuously improving the travelling experience for our customers and working environment for our people. Our team has been working hard to prepare for the introduction of these new trains and we are really excited about the benefits they will bring in the long-term.”
The new trains will also be used on the extension to Barking Riverside when it is completed in 2021.
Tags: Barking
