Great Northern Route - Great Northern Route Rolling Stock - B

Great Northern Route - B

Great Northern Route Rolling Stock

As of 2021, the Great Northern fleet consists of Class 387s and Class 717s, the former operating services from London King's Cross and the latter from Moorgate. Class 700s also operate on the route on Thameslink services.
Prior to the introduction of Class 387s and Class 717s in 2016 and 2019 respectively, Class 313s, Class 317s, Class 321s, and Class 365s were used. Of these, Class 365s lasted until 15 May 2021, at which point they were replaced by Gatwick Express Class 387/2 units which were being used by Southern while the service was suspended.

Great Northern Route Current Fleet

Bombardier Electrostar 387/1

Express services between London King's Cross & Ely / King's Lynn / Peterborough 2014–2015

387/2

Semi-fast services between London King's Cross & Ely / Peterborough 2016–2017

387/3

Semi-fast services between London King's Cross & Ely / Peterborough 2016

Siemens Desiro 717 Desiro City

Northern City Line: Services between Moorgate & Welwyn Garden City / Stevenage via Hertford North 2018

Great Northern Route Future Fleet

Govia Thameslink Rail issued a tender in April 2023 for between 21 and 30 four-coach 100 mph (160 km/h) trains, with an estimated value of £48.6 million.

Great Northern Route Past Fleet

Trains formerly used on the Great Northern Route include, but are not limited to, the following:

BREL 1972

Northern City Line: Services between London Moorgate and Welwyn Garden City / Hertford North / Watton-at-Stone 1976–1977 2019

Replaced by Class 717

BR Second Generation (Mark 3)

Semi-Fast and Express services between London King's Cross and Peterborough / Cambridge 1981–1982 2017

Replaced by Class 387

321

Semi-Fast and Express services between London King's Cross and Peterborough / Cambridge 1989–1990 2016

Replaced by Class 387

Networker 365 Networker Express

Semi-fast services between London King's Cross and Ely / Peterborough 1994–1995 2021

Replaced by Class 387

Bombardier Electrostar 387/2

Semi-fast services between London King's Cross & Ely / Peterborough 2016–2017 2022

Replaced by Class 387/3

Great Northern Route Future Developments

East-West (Varsity) Line

The Varsity Line connected Cambridge with Oxford via Sandy and Bedford ("Varsity" being slang for "University", those termini being major university towns). It was closed in 1968 but there are now plans to restore this route.

Great Northern Route Overview

Great Northern Route Franchise(s):

Thameslink

2 March 1997 – 31 March 2006

West Anglia Great Northern

5 January 1997 – 31 March 2004

Great Northern

1 April 2004 – 31 March 2006

Thameslink and Great Northern

1 April 2006 – 14 Sep 2014

Part of Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern

14 Sep 2014 – 1 April 2028

Great Northern Route Main region(s): London, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk

Great Northern Route Fleet size:

39 Class 387 Electrostar sets

25 Class 717 Desiro City sets

Great Northern Route Stations Called At: 54

Great Northern Route Parent Company: Govia Thameslink Railway

Great Northern Route Reporting Mark: GN

Great Northern Route Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Great Northern Route Electrification:

25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE

750 V DC third rail

Great Northern Route Map

King's Lynn

Watlington

Downham Market

Littleport

Ely

Waterbeach

Cambridge North

Cambridge

M11 motorway

Foxton

Shepreth

Peterborough Meldreth

Huntingdon Royston

St Neots Ashwell & Morden

St Neots South/Tempsford

Sandy Baldock

Biggleswade A1(M) motorway

Arlesey Letchworth Garden City

Hitchin

Stevenage

Knebworth Watton-at-Stone

Welwyn North Hertford North

Welwyn Garden City Bayford

Hatfield Cuffley

Welham Green M25 motorway

Brookmans Park Crews Hill

Potters Bar Gordon Hill

M25 motorway Enfield Chase

Hadley Wood Grange Park

New Barnet Winchmore Hill

Oakleigh Park Palmers Green

New Southgate Bowes Park

Alexandra Palace

Hornsey

Harringay

Finsbury Park

London King's Cross

Drayton Park

London St Pancras International

Highbury & Islington

Thameslink route Essex Road

Old Street

Moorgate

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