British Rail Mark 5A | |
---|---|
![]() TransPennine Express Mk5A set at Lancaster | |
In service | 24 August 2019 – 10 December 2023[1] |
Manufacturer | CAF |
Built at | Beasain[2] |
Constructed | 2017–2018 |
Number built | 66 |
Successor | |
Capacity | 291 seats (261 standard, 30 first class)[4] |
Owners | Beacon Rail[5] |
Operators | TransPennine Express |
Depots | Longsight (Manchester)[6] |
Lines served | North Pennine[7] |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Fully integral aluminium monocoque |
Car length |
|
Width | 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in) |
Doors | Sliding plug, at body ends |
Maximum speed | 125 mph (201 km/h)[8] |
Weight | max. tare 43 t (42 long tons; 47 short tons) |
Braking system(s) | Cheek mounted discs |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Notes/references | |
Transpennine Express passenger cars |
The British Rail Mark 5A is a type of railway vehicle in use in the UK. 52 standard carriages and 14 driving trailers were built by Spanish manufacturer CAF, and were operated by TransPennine Express.[9][1] They first entered service on 24 August 2019.
TransPennine Express announced in 2016 that they were to procure 126 new vehicles from CAF, which included 66 Mark 5A locomotive-hauled coaches. They would be formed into thirteen 5-carriage sets, hauled by Class 68 locomotives. This equates to 65 coaches for total service, with the 66th coach being a spare Driving Trailer.[10] Each set is composed of 1 first class carriage with guard's area and catering provision, 1 standard class carriage with PRM toilet, 2 standard class carriages and a standard class Driving Trailer (DT).
In October 2016, production started on these coaches,[11] and in March 2017, CAF and TPE released a photo of the first completed bodyshell.[12] The first completed rake was sent for testing at Velim test centre in March 2018,[13] the second set being delivered straight to the UK in May 2018 via Portbury ahead of their planned entry into service in the autumn of that year.[14][15] In April 2019, the first Nova 3 set was officially handed over from CAF to TPE, after a mandatory period of fault-free running.[16]
TransPennine Express have branded their new trains under the general name Nova, with the Class 68 + Mark 5A combination given the name Nova 3.[17]
The sets were initially to be used on services between Liverpool Lime Street and Scarborough as well as between Manchester Airport and Saltburn.[18] The first set entered service between Liverpool and Scarborough on 24 August 2019.[19]
The Nova 3 was officially launched on 22 November 2019 at Liverpool Lime Street station alongside other members of the new Nova fleet.[20]
By 2022, four sets were in use daily, making them the most underutilised fleets of passenger stock in the country at five years old.[21] In 2023, faults were discovered in some Mark 5A coaches, including cracks on a number of coaches.[22] Soon afterwards, TransPennine Express announced plans to withdraw their Mark 5A fleet from the December 2023 timetable revision;[1][3][23] however the sets are still leased by TPE until May 2024, and remain in storage.[24]