THE first Class 717 destined for service on the Great Northern to Moorgate made an impromptu one-off preview service on September 28 from Moorgate to Gordon Hill.
The ‘717’ is based on the Class 700 built by Siemens.
The lease for the first unit – No. 717007 – had been signed the previous day.
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Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has ordered 25 six-car Class 717s to replace 44 Class 313 units which are more than 40 years old and life expired.
The new trains have 362 seats, compared to 462 on a pair of three-car ‘313s’, but the ‘717s’ have more standing room. Six units have been delivered to Hornsey depot, four accepted by GTR, with three being used for driver training and one for fitter training.
The first ‘313s’ are expected to be replaced with the new trains before Christmas.
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