Northern placed a £492m order with CAF in January 2016 for 31 three-car and 12 four-car EMUs (class 331) together with 25 two-car and 30 three-car DMUs (class 195). The first class 195 visited Velim for tests during March.

Testing of the class 331s on the British network is set to begin in August, with the first trains due to enter service on the Manchester Airport - Preston - Blackpool North route early next year.