First Class 717s delivered to Ferme Park

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THE first two of 25 six-car Class 717 EMUs for Great Northern services from Moorgate arrived in the UK on July 11 and were delivered to Ferme Park depot.

Construction of the units is on-going at Siemens Krefeld factory, and at the beginning of July, further sets were under test at the Wildenrath track.

The 362-seat trains are fully air conditioned and based on Siemens’ ‘Desiro City’ platform.They use the same bodyshell as the Class 700, but with a front emergency egress door.

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The trains will replace the 44 Class 313s used by Govia Thameslink, which date from 1976, and are the oldest EMUs in use on the main line network.

The first trains should enter service before the end of the year.

Set Nos. 717007/008 are seen passing Tonbridge as part of train 6X71 from Dollands Moor to Ferme Park, with GBRf’s No. 66745 as the motive power.

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Nos. 717005/009 arrived on July 18. HOWARD LEWSEY

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