Bombardier Aventra
The Bombardier Aventra is a British family of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger trains designed by Bombardier Transportation, as a successor to the Bombardier Electrostar.
Bombardier Aventra | |
---|---|
Class 345 for Elizabeth Line services. | |
Manufacturer | Bombardier Transportation |
Built at | Derby Litchurch Lane Works |
Replaced | Class 172 Class 315 Class 317 Class 319 Class 321 Class 323 Class 350 Class 360 Class 379 Class 387 Class 455 Class 456 Class 458 Class 707 |
Constructed | 2015 – present |
Predecessor | Bombardier Electrostar |
Operator(s) | |
Depot(s) | |
Specifications | |
Weight | 30–35 tonnes (30–34 long tons; 33–39 short tons) per car[1] |
Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC (OHLE), 750 V DC (Third rail) |
Current collection method | Pantograph, Contact shoe |
Bogies | Flexx-Eco[2] |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Description
The train has been designed to be lighter and more efficient, with increased reliability.[3] It will have a lightweight structure made of welded assemblies bolted together into a carriage (CKD philosophy), wide gangways and doors to shorten boarding times in stations, and ERTMS.[2] The design incorporates FlexxEco bogies which have been used in service on Voyagers and newer Turbostars.[4] The gangway is designed to allow maximum use of the interior space and ease of movement throughout the train.[5][6]
Orders
As of December 2017, 2,618 vehicles have been ordered for six operators:
Crossrail
The first order for Bombardier Aventras covered 65 Class 345 nine-car EMUs (with an option for 17 more) for the London Crossrail project. These will be operated by Crossrail concession holder MTR Crossrail.[7] In July 2017, it was announced that the order would be increased to 70 trains;[8] the contract for the additional trains was signed in March 2018.[9]
London Overground
London Overground has ordered 54 four-car trains (Class 710), with an option remaining for 15 more, similar to those being used for Crossrail. They will replace Class 315, 317 and 172 on Lea Valley and Gospel Oak lines and will be operated by London Overground concession holder Arriva Rail London.[10]
Greater Anglia
In August 2016, Greater Anglia was awarded the new East Anglia franchise, and announced an order with Bombardier for Class 720 units, formed of 22 ten-car trains and 89 five-car trains (665 carriages) as part of a full fleet replacement programme.[11]
South Western Railway
On 20 June 2017, Bombardier was awarded a contract to build 750 cars for South Western Railway (SWR). The Class 701 units will be formed into 30 five-car and 60 ten-car sets and replace the entirety of the 455, 456, 458 and 707 suburban fleet currently used by SWR.[12][13]
West Midlands Trains
On 17 October 2017, Bombardier was selected to provide a total of 81 Class 730 EMU vehicles (333 carriages) for West Midlands Trains. These will be formed into three separate types; 36 three-car high capacity 'Metro' units, 29 five-car units for outer suburban services, and 16 five-car units for London-Birmingham services.[14]
Bombardier Aventra variants
Class | Operator | Introduced | Number | Power | Carriages | Carriage Length (m) | Door configuration | End gangways | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 345 | TfL Rail | 2017 | 70 | AC electric | 9 (7 from 2017) | 24 | Plug, 6 sets of doors per carriage | No | |
Class 701 | South Western Railway | 2020 | 30 | DC electric | 5 | 20 | Plug, 4 sets of doors per carriage | ||
60 | 10 | ||||||||
Class 710 | London Overground | 2019 | 31 | AC electric | 4 | 20 | |||
18 | Dual voltage | ||||||||
6 | Dual voltage | 5 | |||||||
Class 720[18] | c2c | 2021 | 6 | AC electric | 10 | 24 | |||
Greater Anglia | 2020 | 89 | AC electric | 5[19] | |||||
22 | 10[19] | ||||||||
Class 730 | West Midlands Trains | 2020 | 36 | AC electric | 3 | 24 | Yes | ||
2021 | 29 | 5 | |||||||
16 | 5 |
Bombardier has also proposed a bi-mode version of the Aventra to potentially replace the Bombardier Turbostar and Voyager platforms, intended to be capable of speeds up to 125 miles per hour (200 km/h).[20]
References
- "Weight-loss drives step-change". The Rail Engineer (October 2009). Archived from the original on 22 February 2013.
- Bednall, Joe (June 2010). "A low impact commuter train". Rail Professional (159). p. 27.
- "Aventra – Proven Innovation". The Rail Engineer (60): 17–19. October 2009.
- "Bombardier's Aventra – A new era in train performance". www.rail.co. 21 March 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012.
- "The customer is king". The Rail Engineer (65). March 2010. pp. 28–29.
- Bedminster, Paula (December 2009). "The lightweight Aventra" (PDF). Rail Professional (153). pp. 8–9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2012.
- "Bombardier wins Crossrail train contract". Railway Gazette International. London. 6 February 2014.
- "TfL to order more Elizabeth line trains". Global Rail News. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- "More Crossrail trains ordered". Metro Report International. 27 March 2018. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- Sadler, Katie (3 July 2015). "Bombardier to supply and maintain 180 AVENTRA vehicles for London Overground". European Railway Review. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- Barrow, Keith (10 August 2016). "Abellio clinches East Anglia franchise". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
- Johnson, Robin (20 June 2017). "Derby's Bombardier lands South West Trains order worth almost £900 million". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- FirstGroup and MTR order 750 EMU cars for South Western franchise International Railway Journal 20 June 2017
- "Bombardier and CAF win West Midlands train contracts". Railway Gazette. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- "Bombardier to supply Aventra EMUs to c2c". Railway Gazette. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- Briginshaw, David (14 December 2017). "Britain's c2c franchise orders Aventra EMUs". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- "New trains boost to deal with 'unprecedented' demand". Railnews. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- https://uk.linkedin.com/in/james-o-sullivan-05ba857b
- "New trains as Abellio scoops East Anglia franchise". www.railmagazine.com.
- "Bombardier bi-mode Aventra to feature battery power". Rail Magazine. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.