The British Rail Class 780 and 781 is a planned fleet of three- and four-car Multi Mode (MMU) trains to be built for Northern Trains. Trains are expected to be built with three different modes of operation, these being overhead electrification, diesel and battery.
| British Rail Class 780 | |
|---|---|
| Replaced | (Planned)[1] |
| Number built |
|
| Fleet numbers | TBA |
| Capacity |
|
| Operator | Northern Trains |
| Specifications | |
| Train length |
|
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (160 km/h) (Planned as of September 2025)[2] |
| Axle load | Route Availability 3 (Planned as of 2025)[2] |
| Electric system | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| Safety systems | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
History
editIn August 2023, Northern Trains issued a tender to acquire a contract for up to 450 new trains to replace the older rolling stock in their fleet.[3] Northern noted that they have ten different types of train, with six of those (57 per cent) being over 30 years old – and therefore approaching the end of their life.[4]
In 2024, a more detailed tender for up to 329 new trains was issued,[5] and in January 2025, it was revealed that Northern had shortlisted five companies to build its new fleet – Alstom, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), Hitachi, Siemens and Stadler.[6][4][7] In November 2025, an "Invitation to Submit a Final Tender" was sent to bidders, with an initial order of "around 130" trains expected.[4][8] Contracts are expected to be awarded in 2026, with the first units delivered by 2031.[2]
In September 2025, Modern Railways reported that the TOPS number 780 is reserved for the planned new MMU fleet.[2] The Class 780 is planned to be built with three different modes of operation, these being overhead electrification, diesel and battery.[2] It is planned for the Class 780 fleet to be able to be converted to either battery-electric (BEMU) or electric (EMU) multiple units during its service life.[2][4]
References
edit- ↑ Clinnick, Richard. "Northern new train fleet introduction plans revealed". Modern Railways. Key Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Clinnick, Richard (October 2025). "Northern Revolution". Modern Railways. Vol. 82, no. 925. p. 11.
- ↑ "Supply of New Rolling Stock and Maintenance Support Services - Find a Tender". www.find-tender.service.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 "Northern's new trains". Northern Trains.
- ↑ Dunn, Pip (29 May 2024). "Northern invites tenders for up to 329 new trains". Network News. Rail Magazine. No. 1010. pp. 20–21.
- ↑ "Northern Rail invites five manufacturers for 450 trains". Railway Pro. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ Wilcock, Rich (17 January 2025). "Northern begins negotiations with manufacturers for 450 new trains". Rail Magazine.
- ↑ "Director appointed to deliver up to 450 new trains that will transform travel for Northern customers". www.northernrailway.co.uk. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.