The first bi-mode trains for the new East Midlands franchises are expected to be ready for testing in 2021, according to Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling.
So far, no contract has been announced for the trains, which are due in passenger traffic on the Midland Main Line from April 2022. They were first announced by Graying in July 2017, when he cancelled electrification of the route north of Kettering.
Responding to Pauline Latham (Conservative, Mid-Derbyshire) in a House of Commons transport debate on May 2, Grayling said: “I hope and expect the first train to be tested in 2021. I must leave the announcement on the manufacture of the new trains to the operator, but my hon. Friend knows that I have signalled on many occasions since becoming Secretary of State how committed I am to seeing more trains manufactured in the United Kingdom.”
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AndrewJG8918 - 31/05/2019 12:00
I think it’ll be Stadler to manufacture the Bi-Mode Flirt (Class 7xx) as 9-Car and 10-Car to replace the Class 222 and Class 43 Mk3 HSTs as they are still manufacturing the Class 755 3-Car and 4-Car Flirt for Greater Anglia and Bi-Mode Flirt for TfW Rail. When the new East Midlands franchise begins in August known as East Midlands Railway. As Abellio have won the contract to take over from Stagecoach East Midlands franchise.
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