Bombardier Aventra

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Bombardier Aventra
Bombardier Aventra Class 730 EMU.jpg
A West Midlands Trains Class 730 at Walsall in March 2021
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation, later Alstom
Built atDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Replaced
Constructed2015–present
Entered service22 June 2017 (TfL Rail)
PredecessorBombardier Electrostar
Formation
  • 3 per set (730)
  • 4 per set (710)
  • 5 per set (
    • 701
    • 710
    • 720
    • 730
    )
  • 9 per set (345)
  • 10 per set (701)
Operator(s)
Depot(s)
Specifications
DoorsSliding plug (2 or 3 per side)
Maximum speed75–110 mph (121–177 km/h)
Weight30–35 t (30–34 long tons; 33–39 short tons) per car[1]
Electric system(s)
Current collector(s)
  • Pantograph
  • Contact shoe
BogiesFlexx-Eco[2]
Braking system(s)Disc & regenerative
Multiple workingWithin individual classes
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Bombardier Aventra is a British family of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger trains designed by Bombardier Transportation, as a successor to the Bombardier Electrostar. It incorporates a large proportion of its design from the latter family, while also including numerous new technologies and achieving compliance with more stringent requirements and operator demands.

Bombardier begun developing the Aventra in 2009 based on feedback from train operating companies (TOCs) and upcoming regulation changes. It has been designed to provide a generic platform for conducting inter-regional, commuter, metro, and high-speed passenger services.[3] It has been claimed to be more efficient and flexible than the Electrostar, which was mainly achieved via the greater use of digital technology. The first order for the Aventra came from the Crossrail programme. Numerous other operators have since ordered the type, including London Overground, Greater Anglia, South Western Railway, c2c and West Midlands Trains. The development of a bi-mode version of the Aventra, incorporating batteries, has also been proposed by Bombardier as a replacement for existing diesel multiple-units.

Description[]

The Aventra was developed by Bombardier Transportation principally as a successor to their prolific Electrostar electric multiple unit (EMU) family, the final example of which was delivered during 2018 after nearly twenty years of continuous production.[3] According to Neil Simmons, Bombardier's Head of Bids Engineering, development work on what would become the Aventra had begun as early as 2009, although its design had significantly evolved during this time[3] in response to the feedback gathered from various train operating companies. The platform was to be made adaptable to serve various subsections of the passenger rail market, including inter-regional, commuter, metro, and high-speed services.[3] Furthermore, the introduction of increasingly stringent regulations had driven a need either to extensively redesign the Electrostar, or to develop a replacement family. Bombardier has reportedly invested in excess of £50 million into the development of the Aventra.[3]

In comparison with the Electrostar, the Aventra has been designed to be lighter and more energy-efficient, with greater flexibility.[3] It has also been claimed to provide greater levels of comfort and reliability.[4] The majority of the mechanical engineering between the two families remains identical.[3] Among the differences in the design are various measures to improve operational efficiency, including the adoption of wider gangways and doors to shorten station dwell times by speeding up passenger boarding; the gangway has reportedly been designed to allow better use of the interior space and ease of movement throughout the train.[5][6] The Aventra features a redesigned interior, which Bombardier has indicated to be the main visual difference between the two platforms.[3]

A major area of divergence between the two platforms is the greater use of digital technology on board the Aventra platform,[3] partly in response to operators' requests, such as the train control management system.[3] The platform also uses predictive maintenance instead of traditional prescriptive maintenance. Far more reporting information spanning more functionality is generated by the Aventra than on the previous Electrostar family.[3] The signalling apparatus supports the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).[2]

Structurally, the Aventra is relatively lightweight, the body of each carriage having been redeveloped from the Electrostar.[3] It comprises various welded assemblies that attached to one another via bolts. The vehicle also incorporate the FlexxEco bogie, previously used in service on other Bombardier trainsets, such as the Voyager and some of the later-built Turbostars.[7] While the older Electrostar family are not compliant with the Technical Standards of Interoperability (TSI) introduced in 2017, the Aventra was specifically designed for compliance with the more rigorous regulatory requirements.[3]

During 2018, Bombardier promoted the prospective development of a bi-mode version of the Aventra, intended to be capable of speeds up to 125 miles per hour (200 km/h). This bi-mode trainset, which may incorporate batteries, would be a potential successor to several older diesel multiple-units, such as the Bombardier Turbostar and Voyager platforms.[8]

The primary manufacturing site for the Aventra has been established at Bombardier's Derby Litchurch Lane Works facility; Simmons has stated that the Derby production line is intended to manufacture the type not only to fulfil British orders but also those placed by overseas operators.[3] Each operator can choose to customise the design of its Aventra fleet; common variations have included different vehicle lengths, modified propulsion systems, and interior changes. Much of the onboard equipment has been designed to be flexible and upgradable. Some customers, such as the London Overground, have intentionally stylised their Aventra's interiors to maintain a high degree of commonality with their existing Electrostar fleets.[3]

In November 2021, Alstom signed a memorandum of understanding with Eversholt Rail Group to build 10 three-car hydrogen multiple units.[9]

Orders[]

As of December 2017, 2,618 vehicles have been ordered for six operators:

Crossrail[]

The first order for the Aventra platform was a £1 billion contract for 65 Class 345 nine-car EMUs (with an option for 17 more) for the London Crossrail programme.[3] These are operated by Crossrail concession holder MTR Crossrail and have replaced Class 315, Class 360 and Class 387 on Shenfield Metro, Heathrow and Reading services respectively.[10] In July 2017, it was announced that the order would be increased to 70 trains;[11] the contract for the additional trains was signed in March 2018.[12]

London Overground[]

London Overground Class 710 at Willesden Junction in April 2019

London Overground has ordered 54 four-car trains (Class 710), with an option remaining for 15 more, similar to those being used for Crossrail. They have replaced Class 315, Class 317, Class 172 and Class 378 or the entire fleet in 2019 on Lea Valley, Gospel Oak and Watford DC lines and are operated by London Overground concession holder Arriva Rail London.[13]

Greater Anglia[]

Abellio Greater Anglia Class 720 at Wolverton in September 2020

In August 2016, Greater Anglia was awarded the new East Anglia franchise, and announced an order with Bombardier for Class 720 units, formed of 22 ten-car trains and 89 five-car trains (665 carriages) as part of a full fleet replacement programme. They are to replace the Class 317, Class 321, Class 360 and Class 379s.[14] Greater Anglia amended the order with all to be built as five-car sets.[15]

South Western Railway[]

On 20 June 2017, Bombardier was awarded a contract to build 750 cars for South Western Railway (SWR). The Class 701 units will be formed into 30 five-car and 60 ten-car sets and replace SWR's 455, 456, 458 and 707 suburban fleet.[16][17]

West Midlands Trains[]

On 17 October 2017, Bombardier was selected to build a total of 81 Class 730 EMU units (333 carriages) for West Midlands Trains. These will be formed into three separate types; 36 three-car high capacity 'Metro' units, 29 five-car units for outer suburban services, and 16 five-car units for London-Birmingham services.[18]

c2c[]

In December 2017, c2c ordered six 10-car Aventra units, to come into service in summer 2021.[19][20] These will replace six 4-car Class 387 units leased from 2017.[21]

Bombardier Aventra variants[]

Class Operator Introduced Number Power Carriages Carriage Length (m) Door configuration End gangways Image
Class 345 TfL Rail 2017 70 AC electric 9
(7 from 2017)		 24 Plug, 6 sets of doors per carriage No 345012 at Hayes & Harlington.jpg
Crossrail Class 345.png
Class 701 South Western Railway TBA 30 DC electric 5 20 Plug, 4 sets of doors per carriage SWR 701005 at Egham 19th August 2020.jpg
60 10
SWR Class 701-5.png
Class 710 London Overground 2019 31 AC electric 4 20 Class 710 at Walthamstow Queen's Road.jpg
18 Dual voltage
6 5
LO Class 710-1 w-pantograph.png
Class 720 c2c 2022 12 AC electric 5[22] 24 720545 on test at Wolverton, 21 09 2020.jpg
Greater Anglia 2020 133
GA Class 720.png
Class 730 West Midlands Trains 2022 36 AC electric 3 24 Yes Bombardier Aventra Class 730 EMU.jpg
2022 29 5
16
West Midland Trains Class 730 0.png


References[]

  1. ^ "Weight-loss drives step-change". The Rail Engineer (October 2009). Archived from the original on 22 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b Bednall, Joe (June 2010). "A low impact commuter train". Rail Professional. No. 159. p. 27.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Clinnick, Richard (28 January 2018). "From the archives: Mind the generation gap". railmagazine.com.
  4. ^ "Aventra – Proven Innovation". The Rail Engineer (60): 17–19. October 2009.
  5. ^ "The customer is king". The Rail Engineer. No. 65. March 2010. pp. 28–29.
  6. ^ Bedminster, Paula (December 2009). "The lightweight Aventra" (PDF). Rail Professional. No. 153. pp. 8–9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2012.
  7. ^ "Bombardier's Aventra – A new era in train performance". www.rail.co. 21 March 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Bombardier bi-mode Aventra to feature battery power". Rail. Peterborough. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  9. ^ Agreement signed for Britain’s first new hydrogen train International Railway Journal 10 November 2021
  10. ^ "Bombardier wins Crossrail train contract". Railway Gazette International. London. 6 February 2014.
  11. ^ "TfL to order more Elizabeth line trains". Global Rail News. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  12. ^ "More Crossrail trains ordered". Metro Report International. 27 March 2018. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  13. ^ Sadler, Katie (3 July 2015). "Bombardier to supply and maintain 180 AVENTRA vehicles for London Overground". European Railway Review. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  14. ^ Barrow, Keith (10 August 2016). "Abellio clinches East Anglia franchise". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  15. ^ All Five-Car 720s for Greater Anglia] Modern Railways issue 866 November 2020 page 84
  16. ^ Johnson, Robin (20 June 2017). "Derby's Bombardier lands South West Trains order worth almost £900 million". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2017.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "FirstGroup and MTR order 750 EMU cars for South Western franchise". International Railway Journal. 20 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Bombardier and CAF win West Midlands train contracts". Railway Gazette International. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Bombardier to supply Aventra EMUs to c2c". Railway Gazette. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  20. ^ Briginshaw, David (14 December 2017). "Britain's c2c franchise orders Aventra EMUs". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  21. ^ "New trains boost to deal with 'unprecedented' demand". Railnews. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  22. ^ "New trains as Abellio scoops East Anglia franchise". www.railmagazine.com.
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