GREAT WESTERN Railway has entered into a deal with Porterbrook Leasing to introduce 19 Class 769 trains from spring 2019.
The ‘769s’ are converted from former Class 319 EMUs with the addition of diesel engines, with the overhaul carried out by Wabtec’s Brush Traction subsidiary at Loughborough. Northern and Arriva Trains Wales have already ordered ‘769s’ with overhead electric and diesel bi-mode capability, but the GWR order is planned to be for tri-mode trains also capable of running on third rail electric power.
Informed sources have suggested the Class 769 sets for GWR will come from the ‘319/4’ series.
GWR says the fleet will initially support the introduction of a sub-fleet of 12 Class 387 EMUs on Heathrow Express services, with GWR to take over this operation under a management contract from August. GWR currently has 45 Class 387s used in the Thames Valley, but the Heathrow Express deal is planned to see unit Nos 387130-141 specially converted for the airport link. Modern Railways understands these units will be refurbished at Ilford depot in east London, with the first refurbished unit expected to be ready in April 2019.
However, the ‘769’ fleet will also be used on services between Reading and Gatwick Airport and Reading and Oxford, allowing further Turbo DMUs to be cascaded to the Bristol area, where GWR says they offer the potential for launching new routes. Final details of exactly how and where the new fleet will be used are expected to be finalised later this year. Each Class 769 is to be refurbished, with free Wi-Fi and power at each seat, air cooling, more luggage space and new seat covers.
