GOVIA THAMESLINK Railway has introduced its new Siemens-built Class 717 EMUs into passenger service on its Great Northern suburban routes out of Moorgate. GTR has ordered 25x6-car '717s' from Siemens, financed by Rock Rail Moorgate, a joint venture between Rock Rail and Aberdeen Standard Investments. The Desiro City units began operating northbound preview services between Moorgate and Gordon Hill last autumn and commenced operating timetabled passenger services on 25 March. About a quarter of services were expected to be covered by the new trains by the end of April, with the full fleet in service by late summer.The'717s'are replacing the 44x3-car Class 313s, which first entered service in 1976. Signal sighting issues with the new trains mean four signals on platforms on the Northern City Line have to be moved, with this due to be accomplished in May; pending this, a second person was travelling in the cab to assist with sighting.
展开▼
