UK-based rolling stock operator Eversholt Rail Group has signed contracts worth £490m with Arriva Rail North and Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF to finance and procure 281 new vehicles for operations on the new Northern rail franchise.
The order includes 31 three-car and 12 four-car electric multiple units (EMUs), along with 25 two-car and 30 three-car diesel multiple units (DMUs).
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Based on CAF’s Civity platform, the new rolling stock is expected to be delivered by October 2018 with operations scheduled to start from December 2018.
Assembly of the new 160km/h trains will be carried out at CAF’s facilities in Spain.
Eversholt Rail Group chief executive officer Mary Kenny said: "These new trains will bring much-needed improvements in comfort and capacity for passengers on this important part of the network and we look forward to working with our partners to bring them into service."
The new fleet of trains will replace the outdated Pacer trains and be operated on the new Northern franchise by Arriva from 1 April, linking major towns and cities in the north of England.
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By GlobalDataThe nine-year contract will see extensive investment in new and refurbished trains, as well as extra services, increased capacity and a variety of station and ticketing improvements.
As part of this project, Arriva will work closely with CAF and Eversholt Rail throughout the build process to ensure the trains meet the high specification and delivery timescales promised by the transport operator.
Image: Northern Rail is due to be replaced on 1 April by Arriva Rail North. Photo: courtesy of El Pollock via Wikipedia.
