Karmactive Team
London Northwestern Railway (LNR) has launched its new fleet of electric trains, bringing major improvements for millions of passengers. The Alstom-built Class 730/2 trains began carrying passengers between London Euston and Northampton on June 9, 2025.
The fleet of 36 five-car trains adds 180 new carriages to the network, boosting passenger capacity by 20% on busy routes. Each train offers 406 seats, nearly double the 233 seats on the older Class 350 trains they replace. When paired together, they can provide 812 seats across 10 carriages.
“These trains will make a real difference, bringing more capacity and modern features to millions of commuters,” said Ian McConnell, LNR Managing Director. The fleet is part of LNR’s £1 billion investment to improve rail service.
The new trains replace the Siemens-built Class 350 fleet that served the route since 2005 and the 33-year-old Class 319 trains. Siemens originally delivered the Class 350 “Desiro” trains to Central Trains and Silverlink before West Midlands Trains took over the services in 2017.
Passengers will notice significant upgrades including open gangways for easier movement, charging points at every seat, intelligent air conditioning that adjusts to passenger numbers, digital information screens, and free WiFi. The trains also feature underfloor heating and more space for bicycles, making travel more comfortable and convenient.
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As electric trains, the Class 730/2 fleet delivers important environmental benefits. They produce fewer carbon emissions than diesel trains.. Electric trains are also quieter, reducing noise pollution in towns and cities along the route.
All trains were built in Britain at Alstom’s Derby factory, supporting UK manufacturing jobs. The factory has produced over 2,660 train carriages since 2015 as part of its “Aventra” platform.
The fleet currently serves routes between Northampton and London Euston, stopping at busy stations including Milton Keynes Central, Tring and Watford Junction. Later this year, the trains will begin running on the Trent Valley line between Crewe and Euston, with stops at Lichfield Trent Valley, Nuneaton and Rugby.
LNR has spent £80 million upgrading its Bletchley maintenance depot to service the new trains. The company plans to complete the full rollout by the end of 2026.
Rob Whyte, Alstom’s UK Managing Director, said: “These trains represent a major step forward in sustainable, high-capacity rail travel.”
Ticket prices for journeys on the new trains remain consistent with LNR’s standard fare structure, with the same peak and off-peak pricing that was in place for the previous trains.
