The first five of 75 Caledonian Sleeper Mk 5 coaches have moved to the Velim test track in the Czech Republic for testing.
Built by CAF in Beasain (northern Spain), the vehicles were taken by road to Hendaye in France, from where they were transported by rail across Europe. The coaches are two seat coaches, two Sleepers and a club car.
Caledonian Sleeper Production and Safety Director David Simpson told RAIL on August 22 that the dynamic testing to be carried out at the Czech track will use a continental locomotive, rather than a CS Class 73/9 as originally planned.
- To read when the coaches are due in the UK, and how they will arrive, read RAIL 834, available now on iPad and Android, and on the shelves on August 30.
AndrewJGwilt1989 - 30/08/2017 05:58
More Mk5 coaches could be built to replace the Mk3 coaches that has Slam doors and are currently used on Crosscountry, Arriva Trains Wales and soon be used on Scotrail with Mk3's and Mk4's coaches used on Great Western Railway and Virgin Trains East Coast are to be replaced by Class 800's, Class 801's and Class 802's IET fleets built by Hitachi.