British Rail Class 717


The British Rail Class 717 is an electric multiple unit passenger train built by Siemens, currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railway on its Great Northern Hertford Loop and Welwyn stopping routes. Built to replace Class 313 trains on services into Moorgate, a total of 25 six-car units began entering regular service from March 2019.

History

Upon winning the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, Govia Thameslink Railway announced that it would seek to replace the existing units operating on services to and from Moorgate, with up to 25 six-car units intended to be procured. In December 2015, GTR announced that it had selected Siemens to provide this new fleet as a follow-on order from the main Class 700 order, with entry into service expected from March 2019.
The order was finalised in February 2016.
A significant difference between Class 717s and the earlier Class 700s is the provision of fold-down emergency doors at both ends of each train. These are required for emergency evacuation of passengers while inside the deep-level Moorgate tunnels.
Siemens began testing the Class 717 units in Germany during June 2018. The first unit operated a single preview service in late September 2018, with gradual introduction from the spring of 2019. The final Class 313 service on Great Northern ran in September 2019, completing the fleet replacement by Class 717 units.

Fleet details