Avanti Class 807s among latest new trains to enter traffic across the network

More new trains for various train operating companies are entering traffic - some to replace older trains which will be scrapped, some to allow cascade of older stock to other operators, and some to strengthen timetables with extra services.

The first runs by an Avanti West Coast Class 807 were on October 26 (RAIL 1022). But on November 11, the first timetabled trains ran with the new seven-coach Hitachi units, following the introduction of two booked turns.

The first turn is the 0901 Liverpool Lime Street-Euston and 1305 return, while the second diagram is the 0457 Wolverhampton-Euston, 0743 Euston-Liverpool LS, 1043 Liverpool LS-Euston, and 1705 Euston-Blackpool North.

On the first day, 807001 worked the first turn and 807004 was used for the second. Unit 807006 has also now been accepted into traffic, alongside 807001/003/004.

Meanwhile, of the Class 805 fleet, 805007 was accepted into traffic in early November, leaving just 805006 to complete the full fleet introduction of the 13 five-car bi-mode units.

Elsewhere, South Western Railway has started to slowly increase operations by the Class 701/0 Arterio ten-car Bombardier inner-suburban commuter electric multiple units.

SWR told RAIL: “There are four Arterios in service at the moment. Two are working to Windsor & Eton Riverside, one is working to Shepperton, and one from Surbiton to Waterloo in the morning peak.

“Beyond the four trains in service we have two spares, with six to eight others being used for testing and training each day. We’re looking forward to introducing more Arterio services and will be sharing the wider rollout plan in due course.”

Accepted into passenger traffic now are 701017/031/036/037/ 039/043, while passed for driver training are 701025/028/034/035/ 042/046.

The company says it has no immediate plans to stand down any more Class 455 electric multiple units, other than those which require major expenditure.

However, rapid withdrawal of the fleet is inevitable once the ‘701s’ enter squadron service, which is expected in 2025.

The ‘455s’ are still undergoing some overhauls and corrosion repairs at Kilmarnock, but the corrosion on 455917 was found to

be so bad that it was withdrawn in early November and taken away for scrap on November 13, having donated parts to keep 455723 and 455867 in traffic.

Meanwhile, Greater Anglia says it has just 14 Class 720 Bombardier Aventra units to accept into its fleet, seven Class ‘720/0’ and seven ‘720/5s’. Still to carry

passengers are 720104/137/139- 141/143/144 and 720502-505/ 510/516/534.

GA said there are “no definitive dates for when they will go into

service, but it’s expected to be over the next year. We can run the current timetable well with 119, and the order did allow for growth, so we can accept the

remainder at a steady pace as appropriate.”

Tyne & Wear Metro now has 13 of 46 new Class 555s delivered, and said: “Testing is going well. We are still aiming for the first train entry into service this year”.

There is no date as to when that will happen.

On Merseyside, just 777035 is to enter traffic for Merseyrail, after which the full fleet of 53 units will be in traffic.

Asked if there any plans to take up any of the option for 60 additional Class 777s, a Liverpool City Region spokesman said: “We are looking at the viability of expanding the network, but there are no fixed plans or decisions yet.

A few Class 507s have been retained and are still available for traffic if required, should insufficient Class 777s be available for traffic.

The last three-car Class 730/0 to carry passengers (730026) entered traffic in mid-November with West Midlands Trains.

WMT’s focus will now turn to putting the 36 five-car Class730/2 units into traffic which will allow more Class 350/2s to be stood down.