The Class 700 is a development of the Desiro which is already common on British rails (the Class 450 for example). As they operate on cross-London services (North-South) they are equipped for both 25kV AC OHLE and 750v DC third rail operation.
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| Thameslink 700 134 at Oxted |
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Number built: | 1140 (115 8 and 12 car units) |
| Built: | 2016-19 |
| Builder: | Siemens Transportation |
| Engine: | Siemens traction system (750v DC third rail / 25kV AC OHLE) |
| Formation: | (700/0) Driving Motor Composite Open (DMCO)+Pantograph Trailer Standard Open (PTSO)+Motor Standard Open (MSO)+ Trailer Standard Open (TSO)+TSO+MSO+PTSO+DMCO (700/1) DMCO+PTSO+MSO+MSO+TSO+TSO+TSO+TSO+MSO+ MSO+PTSO+DMCO |
The Class 700 was originally planned to enter service in 2012 though was delayed - however mostly due to political and legal not technical reasons. The first train arrived in the UK in 2015 and entered service in the Summer of 2016 with Thameslink.
The Class 700 comes in two versions, the 700/0 is an eight car unit and the 700/1 a twelve car unit. There are sixty 700/0s and fifty-five 700/1s.
The Class 717 is a similar unit built for Great Northern for the Northern City Line. The Class 707 is another member of the Desiro City family operated by Southeastern Railway.
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| 700 003 at Bedford |
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| 700 003 again this time at St Pancras International |
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| 700 004 passes through Mitcham Junction |
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| 700 007 at Catford |
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| 700 024 at London Bridge |