Engineering news
The franchise, which includes commuter services and long-distance trains from London Waterloo to the south-west of England, will change hands in August and be run by FirstGroup and Hong Kong-based MTR.
They said the new trains would provide a 46 % increase in seats at peak times on suburban routes, will be more energy efficient, and will help reduce journey times. They can run at up to 100mph.
"We are thrilled to have won this important contract,” said Richard Hunter, Bombardier Transportation’s UK managing director. “It demonstrates further confidence placed in this market leading rolling stock, designed and built in Britain.”
Steve Montgomery, managing director of First Rail, promised “state of the art” trains. "We have exciting plans for the South Western rail franchise and these new trains are an important step on the way to delivering an improved journey experience for our passengers,” he said.
The order includes 750 Aventra carriages, similar to the ones used on London’s Crossrail. They will feature free WiFi, in-seat charging points, real-time information screens and air conditioning. There will be wider gangways and doors for quicker boarding, and the trains are expected to be in service from the middle of 2019.
The news also comes as a boost for Britain's economy at a trying time, according to transport minister Paul Maynard. “This multimillion-pound investment in a new fleet of British-built trains is excellent news for South West passengers and the British economy," he told the Guardian. “This investment reflects our commitment, and that of train operators, to put passengers at the heart of everything we do, and will improve journeys and target congestion.”