The first train is expected to enter service by the end of the year and will increase capacity on existing services, allowing most peak services to operate with six-car trains.
The fleet of 15 trains were ordered under an option from a previous order, after AT and the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) backtracked on a plan to introduce 17 Independently-Powered Electric Multiple Units (IPEMUs) to replace DMUs on suburban services to Pukekohe following political indications that the line would be fully electrified.
AT currently operates a fleet of 57 AM class sets, which entered service from 2014 onwards.
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