Great Northern Class 700s to operate from next year

By Richard Clinnick
|
8 June 2016
News

Class 700s will begin running on the Great Northern network from next year.

Manufacturer Siemens said on June 3 that the trains would run between London King’s Cross and Peterborough and Cambridge from 2017. Then, from 2018, they will run from Cambridgeshire onto the Thameslink network, using the Canal Tunnel that links the East Coast Main Line with the TL network at St Pancras International.

Currently the Cambridge and Peterborough routes are operated by Class 317s, ‘321s’ and ‘365s’. Govia Thameslink Railway operates these services, but plans to dispense with the ‘317s’ and ‘321s’.

Class 377 Electrostars will begin running on the GN network from October, replacing the British Rail-era electric multiple units. In the longer term, Class 387/1s will also be used on GTR trains on the ECML, making use of their 110mph capabilities.

For more on the GTR Class 700s, read RAIL 802, published today (June 8).
For the latest Class 700 delivery news, read RAIL 803, published on June 22.

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Author: Richard Clinnick

Head of News (Print and Digital)

[email protected]

Our Head of News, Richard joined RAIL in 2005 from local press, where he had been working since 2002. He covers all aspects of news for the magazine and website, specialising in operations and rolling stock.

Comments (4)

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Andrewjgwilt1989 - 09/06/2016 20:52

On the other article it's been numbered or classified as Class 717's.
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- David - 14/06/2016 22:36
  
  No it hasn't. The Thameslink trains are still class 700.
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  - Andrewjgwilt1989 - 15/06/2016 00:53
    
    Well in fact it's Class 717 for Great Northern and it will be classed as Class 717 for GN. End of discussion.
    
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    - David - 15/06/2016 16:04
      
      Yes, but that's only for the 6-car Class 717s (which are not yet under construction) replacing the Class 313s. The Class 700s (of which 30-odd units have been built so far) will begin operating on Great Northern before the Canal Tunnels open and the Peterborough, Cambridge and peak Welwyn services are connected to Thameslink.
      
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  - Andrewjgwilt1989 - 15/06/2016 00:55
    
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_717 So it is classed as Class 717. That's all.
    
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    - Julian - 15/06/2016 16:07
      
      Class 717 is for inner suburban (Moorgate routes) and replaces Class 313. Class 700 is for outer suburban and replaces Class 319, 377/387, 317 and 321 on Thameslink/Great Northern.
      
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Melvyn - 11/06/2016 20:51

The reason Great Northern will have two classes 700 and 717 are the same today as when original electrification lead to classes 312 and 313 with one type 312/700 for outer suburban trains and classes 313/717 for trains for services to Moorgate which need to use more restricted tunnels and have end doors for emergency egress in the tunnels. It will be interesting to see how 717s manage to get these exits !
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HappyChappy - 11/06/2016 22:15

How long will it take to get to London from Peterborough on the new trains?
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- David - 15/06/2016 16:16
  
  Acceleration is supposed to be better than a Class 365 but remember that these will only be operating semi-fasts.
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HappyChappy - 11/06/2016 22:15

How long will it take to get to London from Peterborough on the new trains?
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