TransPennine Express (TPE) has released a photo showing the first completed Mark 5A bodyshell.
Spain’s CAF is building 66 Mark 5A locomotive-hauled carriages for TPE. Due to enter service in 2018, the five-car trains will be hauled by Class 68 locomotives sub-leaded from Direct Rail Services.
Beacon Rail both owns the Class 68s and has financed the new carriages.
As well as the Mark 5A coaches, TPE has ordered 19 bi-mode Class 802 units from Hitachi and 12 Class 397 EMUs from CAF.
TPE managing director Leo Goodwin said: “It’s great that our plans are now becoming reality and I want customers in the North to know that our new trains plus more seats are on the way.
“These spacious carriages will contain brilliant new features that will really benefit customers and the on-board experience will be completely reimagined. Soon, customers will be able to travel in style on brand new, state-of the art trains.”