Class 700 Desiro City

Class 700 Desiro City
Name	Class 700 Desiro City
Manufacturer	Siemens Mobility
Family	Desiro City
Yearconstruction	2016–2019
Yearservice	2017
Numberbuilt	660 cars (220 units)
Formation	3-car sets
Capacity	275 seated
Operator	Great Western Railway, London Northwestern Railway, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express
Width	2.80 m
Height	3.78 m
Maxspeed	100 mph (161 km/h)
Traction	IGBT–VVVF
Electrification	25 kV AC overhead
Brakes	Regenerative, disc

Class 700 Desiro City is a suburban electric multiple unit introduced into British passenger service in the late 2010s. Built by Siemens Mobility for high-capacity commuter routes, the type entered operation during a period of fleet modernisation affecting operators such as Great Western Railway, Avanti West Coast, and TransPennine Express. It was deployed to replace older units including British Rail Class 313, British Rail Class 321, and British Rail Class 319 sets on electrified suburban corridors.

Design and Technical Specifications

The train's design derives from the Siemens Desiro City family which traces engineering lineage to products used by Transport for London and European operators like SNCF and Deutsche Bahn. The aluminium carbody structure incorporates crashworthiness standards influenced by European Union Agency for Railways directives and UIC codes. Propulsion uses Siemens traction modules similar to units supplied to Merseyrail and South Western Railway, with IGBT–VVVF inverters and asynchronous traction motors resembling technology in Class 707 and Class 385. Bogies employ primary and secondary suspension arrangements comparable to designs used by Bombardier Transportation and Alstom regional stock. Onboard systems include regenerative braking compatible with National Grid substations and Network Rail electrification, a passenger information system integrated with Automatic Train Protection interfaces, CCTV and passenger counting systems drawn from suppliers who serve Transport for London and Metropolitan Police contracts. Accessibility complies with standards from the Equality Act 2010 and specifications used on New Routemaster vehicles.

Manufacturing and Production

Manufacture took place at Siemens Mobility facilities in Krefeld and Doncaster, with component supply chains involving firms such as Knorr-Bremse, Siemens AG, Alstom subcontractors, and UK-based suppliers akin to those supplying Hitachi Rail and Vivarail. Production scheduling interacted with procurement frameworks used by Department for Transport and rolling-stock leasing companies including Angel Trains and Eversholt Rail Group. Build quality assurance referenced testing regimes used on projects like Thameslink Programme and Crossrail, and dynamic testing occurred on test tracks comparable to the Old Dalby Test Track and infrastructure overseen by Network Rail signalling teams.

Operators and Deployment

Primary leaseholders and operators deployed units on networks operated by Transport for London Overground partners, regional franchises including West Midlands Trains and long-distance operators such as Avanti West Coast. Units were introduced on suburban routes that connect hubs like London Paddington, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Leeds railway station, and Bristol Temple Meads. Timetabling integration involved franchise holders, the Office of Rail and Road oversight, and coordination with infrastructure projects such as the Great Western Main Line electrification.

Service History and Performance

Entry into passenger service coincided with capacity constraints on commuter corridors during periods of high demand documented by Transport Focus and franchise performance reports to the Department for Transport. Performance metrics included punctuality measured against Public Performance Measure targets and reliability statistics comparable to legacy fleets from British Rail eras. In service the units demonstrated energy savings through regenerative braking comparable to modern EMUs used by SNCF and DB Regio, though early operational phases required software updates and depot process adjustments akin to those experienced in Thameslink and Docklands Light Railway introductions.

Refurbishment and Modifications

Refurbishment programmes involved interior reconfigurations, passenger information system upgrades, and compliance retrofits comparable to mid-life works done on Class 377 and Class 350 fleets. Modifications included wheelchair space reallocation aligned with guidance from Department for Transport accessibility reviews, seat renewals referencing standards used by Arriva and Stagecoach Group commuter services, and HVAC improvements drawing on suppliers serving Great Western Railway and Northern Trains.

Incidents and Safety Record

Incidents recorded in safety reports were investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and reported to the Office of Rail and Road. Investigations referenced signalling interaction issues familiar from cases involving Network Rail infrastructure and earlier EMU introductions, with outcomes leading to procedural changes similar to those implemented after notable incidents like the Potters Bar rail crash or operational improvements following Grayrigg derailment learnings.

Fleet Numbers and Livery Variants

Fleet numbering followed patterns used by UK multiple units in registers managed by Rail Safety and Standards Board and allocation records kept by leasing companies such as Eversholt Rail Group. Livery variants appeared reflecting operator brands including liveries used by Great Western Railway, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, and TransPennine Express, with special promotional wraps paralleling campaigns seen on Gatwick Express and anniversary schemes similar to Eurostar heritage markings.

Category:Siemens Desiro City Category:Electric multiple units of Great Britain