SOUTH WEST ~ Class 707 Construction

©Railway Gazzete 

LIAM:

The first body shell for the new Class 707 EMU's has been built in the Siemens Krefeld Factory in Germany. The first unit's construction is scheduled to finish by February 2016, with test trials beginning in May 2016 at the Wildenrath test track, before delivery to Wimbledon depot where the trains will be maintained by South West Trains' maintenance team.


Photo added Spring 2016, showing 707 example. 
South West Trains ordered 30 five-car sets of these high-density EMUs. The units are to be operated in pairs (forming 10 coach services) along the London to Windsor route, allowing the existing fleet of Class 458/5 units to be redeployed on the network, allowing higher capacity services on other routes.

FACT: 2+1 and 2+2 style seating. 275 seats per 5-car unit. Used on Metro routes, explaining metro colours. 

The Class 707 units are to integrate state of the art technology and will be lighter and more energy efficient than any of South West Trains' existing fleet. These units will also significantly increase space for passengers and improve on-board facilities, air-conditioned carriages featuring wide gangways, improved passenger information systems, free wi-fi and one power socket per seat pair. There will be no tables on seat backs or in facing bays, and toilets will not be fitted.
Regards:

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