FIRSTGROUP and Hong Kong-listed MTR Corporation have placed an £895 million order for 90 new trains after successfully winning the South Western rail franchise.
The joint venture partners, which won the franchise in March after a battle with previous incumbent Stagecoach, said the order would result in a 46 per cent increase in peak production capacity on suburban routes into London’s Waterloo station.
Aberdeen-based FirstGroup, which holds 70 per cent of the joint venture with MTR, gave a commitment to invest in new rolling stock in their successful bid for the South Western franchise.
The trains, which will include 750 new carriages in five and 10 car formations, will be manufactured by Bombardier Transport-ation in Derby.
Capable of achieving speeds of 100 miles per hour, the trains are pledged to be highly efficient, and able to contribute to reduced journey times.
They also promise to improve the travelling experience for customers, with facilities such as free wi-fi and charging points at seats.
The first of the trains is due to come into service from the middle of 2019, with the full fleet due to be in place the following year.
FirstGroup and MTR are due to start running the franchise, which includes routes into Waterloo from Windsor, Reading and West London, on August 20.
Steve Montgomery, managing director of First Rail, said: “We have exciting plans for the South West- ern franchise and these trains are an important step to delivering an improved experience for passengers.”
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