First GA ‘720’ breaks cover as work starts on South Western ‘701s

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THE first of 665 ‘Aventra’ vehicles for Greater Anglia is approaching completion at Bombardier’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby.

Several cars were well advanced on the production line in late-June, alongside Class 345 and Class 710 EMUs for Crossrail and London Overground.

Closest to completion was five-car set No. 720503, the third of 89 sets destined for Greater Anglia.

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A driving car from Greater Anglia ‘Aventra’ No. 720503 nears completion at Bombardier’s Litchurch Lane works on June 28. BEN JONES

Assembly of the first vehicles began at Litchurch Lane in February, with the first completed set expected to be unveiled in August. Deliveries will start in January 2019, and the first five-car trains are due to enter service two months later.

Five-car Class 720/5s will be first off the production line, with the 22 10-car Class 720/1 sets following. All should be delivered to Abellio by September 2020, replacing Class 317, 321, 360/1 and 379 EMUs on Liverpool Street outer-suburban routes.

In parallel with the massive GA contract, Bombardier has also started work on the first of 750 Class 701 ‘Aventras’ for South Western Railway.

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