To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on implementing plans for new IEP and Thameslink rolling stock.
Answered on
29 October 2015
Implementation plans for both fleets are making good progress. Hitachi Rail’s Class 800/801 IEP train manufacturing facility was opened by the Prime Minister on 3 September, IEP depot construction continues as planned and testing of the three IEP test trains continues on the East Coast Main Line. In terms of Thameslink, Siemens has delivered the first two Class 700 trains and the Secretary of State opened the new Thameslink Programme Three Bridges traincare facility on 15 October. The first Class 700s trains are planned to enter passenger service, as planned, in Spring 2016.