Avanti West Coast is introducing its new fleet of Hitachi trains named Evero, a 23-strong fleet consisting of 10 seven-carriage electric trains (Class 807) and 13 five-carriage bi-modes (Class 805).
They will initially serve routes from London to the Midlands, Chester, North Wales and then in the North West. The Class 805 has 299 seats, 16 percent more than the Voyager trains which served this part of the network.
Switching between electric and diesel, the bi-mode versions will principally operate on the London to North Wales route while the electric trains will be focused between London, the West Midlands and Liverpool.
A total of six Evero Class 805s will initially be used on each weekday. The remainder of the fleet will be introduced on the network in due course.
The £350m fleet will be maintained at Alstom’s Oxley depot in the West Midlands, and will work alongside the Pendolino trains, which have recently undergone the largest ever upgrade of its kind in the UK with an £117m investment.
“The introduction of our new timetable and the Evero fleet marks an exciting new chapter for our people and customers,” Andy Mellors, managing director of Avanti West Coast, said. “The investment is also a key part of our plans to support the UK rail industry, and our wider commitment to improve customer experience on the West Coast Main Line.”
