British Rail Class 717
{{Short description|Trains on services into Moorgate, London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox train
| background = #6DB8E3
| name = British Rail Class 717
{{nowrap|Desiro City}}
| image = Great Northern Class 717 Desiro City at Palmers Green June 2019 cropped.jpg
| imagealt =
| caption = Great Northern Class 717 unit at {{stnlnk|Palmers Green}}
| interiorimage = GTR Class 717 Interior.jpg
| interiorimagealt =
| interiorcaption = The standard-class interior of a Class 717 unit
| service = 28 September 2018{{snd}}present
| manufacturer = Siemens Mobility
| designer =
| assembly =
| ordernumber =
| family = Desiro City
| replaced = Class 313
| yearconstruction = 2018
| yearservice =
| refurbishment =
| yearscrapped =
| numberconstruction =
| numberbuilt = 25
| numberservice =
| numberpreserved =
| numberscrapped =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| formation = {{ubli|indent=1em|6 cars per unit:|{{abbr|DMOS|Driver's cab, Motor car, Open saloon, Standard class}}-{{abbr|TOS|Trailer car, Open saloon, Standard class}}-{{abbr|TOS(L)W|Trailer car, Open saloon, Standard class, provision for Lavatory, Wheelchair accommodation}}-{{abbr|MOS|Motor car, Open saloon, Standard class}}-{{abbr|PTOS|Pantograph, Trailer car, Open saloon, Standard class}}-DMOS}}
| diagram =
| code =
| fleetnumbers = 717001–717025
| capacity = 362 seats
| owner = Rock Rail{{cite book |editor1-last=Sherratt |editor1-first=P. |title=Modern Railways: Review 2023 |date=2023 |publisher=Key Publishing |location=Stamford |isbn=978-1-80282-569-5 |pages=18–19 |chapter=ROSCO Fleets}}
| operator = Great Northern
| lines = {{ubl|East Coast Main Line|Hertford Loop Line|Northern City Line}}
| carbody = Aluminium{{cite book |title=Desiro City Electrical Multiple Unit for Thameslink |edition=2014 |publisher=Siemens Mobility |location=Berlin |url-status=live |url=https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:18947a8881a7ddb5131bbb8540ef4ffabc954f20/desiro-city-thameslink-data-sheet-en.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029204719/https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:18947a8881a7ddb5131bbb8540ef4ffabc954f20/desiro-city-thameslink-data-sheet-en.pdf |archive-date=29 October 2020 }}
| trainlength = {{convert|121.7|m|ftin|sigfig=1|abbr=on}}
| carlength = {{convert|20.2|m|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|2.80|m|abbr=on}}
| height =
| lowfloor =
| floorheight = {{convert|1.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| platformheight =
| entrylevelorstep =
| doors = Double-leaf pocket sliding, {{avoid wrap|each {{cvt|1500|mm|in}} wide}} {{avoid wrap|(2 per side per car)}}
| wheeldiameter = {{convert|820|–|760|mm|2|abbr=on}} {{avoid wrap|(new–worn)}}{{cite book |title=SF7000: Bogie-platform for electrical multiple units |publisher=Siemens Mobility Austria |location=Graz |edition=05/2020 |id=Art. No. MORS-B10032-00 |url=https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:f4d6808f-a427-4d0a-b029-0c5b9d82dfe6/mors-b10032-00-datasheet-bogies-sf7000-deenus-144_original.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930190931/https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:f4d6808f-a427-4d0a-b029-0c5b9d82dfe6/mors-b10032-00-datasheet-bogies-sf7000-deenus-144_original.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2020 |url-status=live}}
| wheelbase = {{ubl|Motor bogies: {{avoid wrap|{{convert|2200|mm|abbr=on}}}}|Trailer bogies: {{avoid wrap|{{convert|2100|mm|abbr=on}}}}}}
| maxspeed = {{convert|85|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|204|t|t LT ST|order=out|abbr=on}}
| axleload = {{ubli|ident=1em|Motor bogies: {{convert|15.5|t|t LT ST|order=out|abbr=on}}|Trailer bogies: {{convert|14.5|t|t LT ST|order=out|abbr=on}}}}
| steep gradient =
| traction = Siemens IGBT
| traction motors =
| poweroutput = {{convert|1200|kW|abbr=on}} at wheels
| tractiveeffort =
| acceleration = {{convert|0.85|m/s2|mph/s|abbr=on}}
| deceleration =
| aux =
| powersupply =
| hvac =
| electricsystem = {{ubl|{{25 kV 50 Hz}} overhead|{{750 V DC|conductor=y}}}}
| collectionmethod = {{ubl|Pantograph (AC)|Contact shoe (DC)}}
| uicclass = {{ubli|indent=1em|Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′}}
| wheels driven =
| minimum curve = {{cvt|120|m}}
| brakes = Electro-pneumatic (disc) {{avoid wrap|and regenerative}}
| safety = {{ubl|AWS|ETCS{{cite news |title=Digital signalling for East Coast main line tested on Thameslink |date=21 September 2021 |url=https://railinsider.co.uk/2021/09/21/digital-signalling-for-east-coast-main-line-tested-on-thameslink/ |work=Rail Insider |publisher=Business Daily Group |access-date=20 November 2021 |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430181424/https://railinsider.co.uk/2021/09/21/digital-signalling-for-east-coast-main-line-tested-on-thameslink/ |url-status=dead }}|TPWS|Tripcock{{cite news |title=Class 717 Production Passes Halfway |url=https://www.modernrailways.com/article/class-717-production-passes-halfway |access-date=18 October 2022 |work=Modern Railways |publisher=Key Publishing |place=Stamford |date=24 May 2018 |url-access=subscription}}{{notetag|Tripcocks were removed in May 2023 following the May 2022 completion of the Northern City Line tripcock-to-TPWS conversion programme.{{cite magazine |last1=Clinnick |first1=R. |title=Modernising the Moorgate branch |magazine=Rail Express |date=April 2023 |issue=323 |page=87 |publisher=Mortons Media Group |location=Horncastle |issn=1362-234X}}}}}}
| coupling = Dellner
| multipleworking =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
}}
The British Rail Class 717 Desiro City{{cite news |title=New Govia Thameslink Railway trains to be Class 717s |url=http://www.railmagazine.com/news/fleet/2016/06/08/new-govia-thameslink-railway-trains-to-be-class-717s |work=Rail Magazine |publisher=Bauer Consumer Media |place=Peterborough |access-date=9 June 2016 |last1=Clinnick |first1=R. |date=8 June 2016}} is an electric multiple unit passenger train built by Siemens Mobility, currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railway on its Great Northern Hertford Loop and Welwyn stopping routes. Built to replace Class 313 trains on services into Moorgate, a total of 25 six-car units began entering regular service from March 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/great-northern-class-717s-finally-enter-passenger-service |title=Great Northern Class 717s finally enter passenger service |work=Rail Magazine |publisher=Bauer Consumer Media |place=Peterborough |date=25 March 2019 |last1=Clinnick |first1=R. |access-date=12 June 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/717trains |title=New trains for Moorgate services |website=Great Northern |publisher=Govia Thameslink Railway |place=Newcastle upon Tyne |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090115/https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/717trains |archive-date=27 March 2019 |url-status=dead}} The units are similar to the Class 700s (in use with Thameslink) and the Class 707s (in use with Southeastern).
History
Upon winning the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) announced that it would seek to procure new trains totalling 150 vehicles to replace the then-40-year-old {{BRC|313}} units operating on services to and from Moorgate.{{cite news |title=Govia wins TSGN franchise, beating FirstGroup |url=https://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/govia-wins-tsgn-franchise-beating-firstgroup |work=Rail Technology Magazine |publisher=Cognitive Publishing |place=Manchester |access-date=12 June 2023}} 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.{{cite news |title=Siemens selected to supply Moorgate suburban EMU fleet |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/siemens-selected-to-supply-moorgate-suburban-emu-fleet.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619230305/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/siemens-selected-to-supply-moorgate-suburban-emu-fleet.html |work=Railway Gazette |publisher=DVV Media International |place=Sutton |archive-date=19 June 2016}}
The order was finalised in February 2016.{{cite news |title=GTR strikes £200m-plus deal for new train fleet serving City of London |url=https://news.siemens.co.uk/news/gtr-strikes-200m-plus-deal-for-new-train-fleet-serving-city-of-london |publisher=Siemens plc |place=Frimley |date=18 February 2016 |access-date=7 September 2020}}{{cite letter |first=K. |last=Cox |recipient=Mark Prisk MP |subject=In follow-up to the information session of Wednesday 6 December 2017 |date=15 December 2017 |url=https://www.markprisk.com/sites/www.markprisk.com/files/2017-12/GTR%20response%20to%20meeting%20with%20Mark%20Prisk%20MP.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Govia Thameslink Railway |publication-place=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219031200/https://www.markprisk.com/sites/www.markprisk.com/files/2017-12/GTR%20response%20to%20meeting%20with%20Mark%20Prisk%20MP.pdf |archive-date=19 February 2018 |url-status=dead}}
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.{{cite book |publisher=Network Rail |title=London North Eastern Route Sectional Appendix |chapter=Module LNE1, LOR 105 Seq 001 |date=3 June 2017 |id=NR30018/02 |page=41}}
Siemens began testing the Class 717 units in Germany during June 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/testing-begins-on-gtrs-new-class-717s-in-germany/ |title=Testing begins on GTR's new Class 717s in Germany |date=30 June 2018 |last=Boyd-Hope |first=G. |publisher=Mortons Media Group |place=Horncastle |access-date=12 June 2023}}
= Operation =
The first unit operated a single preview service in late September 2018, with gradual introduction from the spring of 2019.{{cite news |title=New Great Northern Class 717 carries first passengers |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/new-great-northern-class-717-carries-first-passengers |work=Rail Magazine |publisher=Bauer Consumer Media |place=Peterborough |access-date=12 June 2023 |last1=Clinnick |first1=R. |date=1 October 2018}} The final Class 313 service on Great Northern ran in September 2019, completing the fleet replacement by Class 717 units.{{cite news |title=1,514 brand new vehicles as GTR completes £2 billion fleet cascade |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/1-514-brand-new-vehicles-as-gtr-completes-2-billion-fleet-cascade |access-date=12 May 2020 |work=Rail Magazine |publisher=Bauer Consumer Media |place=Peterborough |last1=Clinnick |first1=R. |date=2 October 2019}}
In-cab signalling
In September 2021, the installation of European Train Control System (ETCS) on the Class 717 fleet was successfully tested on the Thameslink 'core' route between St Pancras International and Blackfriars stations in central London.{{cite news |title=Great Northern train tests successfully for first stage of East Coast Digital Programme |url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/great-northern-train-tests-successfully-for-first-stage-of-east-coast-digital-programme |access-date=18 October 2022 |publisher=Network Rail |date=21 September 2021 |location=London}} The success of the test allowed Govia Thameslink Railway to work towards enabling the use of ETCS in passenger service on the Northern City Line in November 2023, which will be followed by the decommissioning and removal of the existing conventional signalling system in 2024.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Commuters look forward to more reliable services as first passenger trains run to City of London using digital signalling |url=https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/govia-thameslink-railway/pressreleases/commuters-look-forward-to-more-reliable-services-as-first-passenger-trains-run-to-city-of-london-using-digital-signalling-3289065 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Mynewsdesk |language=en}} Further testing and implementation on other lines and routes is planned.{{cite news |last1=White |first1=C. |title=Great Northern Class 717 completes tests with in-cab signalling in London |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/09/great-northern-class-717-successfully-tests-with-in-cab-signalling-in-london.html |access-date=5 March 2022 |work=Rail Advent |date=23 September 2021}}
In October 2022, testing started for the upgrade of the ETCS baseline from B3MR1 to B3R2, with dynamic testing planned for December 2023.
Environment
Class 717 trains generate electricity through regenerative braking.{{cite news |date=8 October 2020 |title=Great Northern trains save energy and reduce carbon |last=Wordsworth |first=N. |url=https://railinsider.co.uk/2020/10/08/great-northern-trains-save-energy-and-reduce-carbon/ |access-date=5 March 2022 |work=RailInsider |publisher=Business Daily Group |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430001912/https://railinsider.co.uk/2020/10/08/great-northern-trains-save-energy-and-reduce-carbon/ |url-status=dead }} The trains are also 20% lighter than their predecessors, making them more energy efficient.{{cite news |last=Holden |first=A. |date=11 October 2020 |title=4,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved by Great Northern trains |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/10/4000-tonnes-of-co2-emissions-saved-by-great-northern-trains.html |access-date=5 March 2022 |work=RailAdvent}}
Fleet details
| class="wikitable"
!Class !Operator !Qty. !Year built !Cars per unit !Unit nos. |
| 717
|align=center|25 |align=center|2018 |align=center|6 |align=center|717001–717025 |
|---|
=Illustration=
{{Wide image|Great Northern Class 717.png|x55px|Side-profile illustration of a Great Northern Class 717 unit}}
Notes
{{notefoot}}
References
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist}}
{{UK Desiro|state=collapsed}}
{{British Rail EMU|state=collapsed}}
Category:Siemens multiple units
Category:Train-related introductions in 2018