New trains for Orbital Railway
12 Aug 2009
The first of London Over-ground's new Class 378s has been praised by its driver, Roy Fairbrass.
Of the new fleet of 54 trains, built by Bombardier in Derby, 24 will see service on London's northern orbital lines and the Euston-Watford Junction route. They will replace most of the Class 313s. A further 20 sets will be used on the soon-to-be reopened East London Line, with ten more being used across the network.
Stepping down from the footplate of 378005 at Willesden Junction, a clearly delighted Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said, "For far too long passengers on our Overground lines have suffered from crumbling, unreliable trains that were just not up to muster. Every element on these brand spanking new trains has been crafted to meet the Capital's needs and the standard of design will surprise even the most hardened traveller.
'Air conditioning, walkthrough carriages and CCTV, combined with the completion of all the East London Line work by 2012, will revolutionise the London Overground network.'
Driver Roy Fairbrass gave the 378 top marks. "As a train for mass passenger transit, its wonderful.' Currently the three car sets can carry approximately 500 passengers, but from 2011 a fourth carriage will be added enabling the 378s to carry around 700 passengers. The arrival of the new trains marks a further stage in TfL's ambitious plans to build London Overground into an orbital railway around the capital by 2012 The trains are built in Derby by Bombardier who will also maintain them.