The 750V dc third rail EMUs will enter service from mid-2019 and the entire fleet will be in service by December 2020. The 160km/h trains will increase peak capacity on suburban routes into London Waterloo by 46%, with the uniform fleet replacing class 455 EMUs dating from the 1980s and the fleet of 30 class 707 Desiro City EMUs currently being delivered by Siemens.

The fleet will comprise 60 10-car and 30 five-car trains and assembly will be carried out at Bombardier’s Derby plant. The fleet will be maintained at the franchise's Wimbledon depot. 

Funding for the order has been led by Rock Rail in partnership with Standard Life subsidiary SL Capital and GLIL Infrastructur. Senior debt is being provided by a consortium of British, European and North American institutional investors.

A technical description of the Aventra platform can be viewed here.

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