Class 717 'Desiro City' Profile and Models

Class 717 'Desiro City'

717016 at Palmers Green in June 2019. ©Scully Hitchcock

Upon winning the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) announced that it would seek to replace the existing Class 313 units (which were 40 years old in 2016) 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, originally designated Class 713, 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.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Unit

Electric Multiple Unit

Builder

Siemens Mobility

Build Dates

2018

Total Built

25 sets

Power Output

1,600 hp

Top Speed

85 mph

Passenger Capacity

362 seats

Operated By

Great Northern

Main Duties

Local passenger

In Service Until

Present

Surviving Examples

All in service