British Rail Class 780

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Wikipedia

British Rail Class 780
Replaced
(Planned)[1]
Number built
  • 161
  • (78 × 3-car sets 83 × 4-car sets)
(Planned as of September 2025)[2]
Fleet numbersTBA
Capacity
  • 3-car sets 191 seats
  • 4-car sets 265 seats
(Planned as of September 2025)[2]
OperatorsNorthern Trains
Specifications
Train length
  • 3 cars 69 m (226 ft 5 in)
  • 4 cars 92 m (301 ft 10 in)
(Planned as of September 2025)[2]
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h) (Planned as of September 2025)[2]
Axle loadRoute Availability 3 (Planned as of 2025)[2]
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collectionPantograph
Safety system(s)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 780 is a planned fleet of three- and four-car Multi Mode (MMU) trains to be built for Northern Trains.

History

In August 2023, Northern issued a tender to acquire a contract for up to 450 new trains to replace the older rolling stock in their fleet.[3] A more detailed tender for up to 329 new trains was issued in 2024,[4] and in January 2025, it was revealed that Northern had shortlisted five companies to build its new fleet - Alstom, CAF, Hitachi, Siemens and Stadler.[5][6][7]

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 diesel, electric 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][6]

References

  1. ↑ Clinnick, Richard. "Northern new train fleet introduction plans revealed". Modern Railways. Key Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Clinnick, Richard (October 2025). "Northern Revolution". Modern Railways. Vol. 82, no. 925. p. 11.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ Dunn, Pip (29 May 2024). "Northern invites tenders for up to 329 new trains". Network News. Rail Magazine. No. 1010. pp. 20–21.
  5. ↑ "Northern Rail invites five manufacturers for 450 trains". Railway Pro. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Northern's new trains". Northern Trains.
  7. ↑ Wilcock, Rich (17 January 2025). "Northern begins negotiations with manufacturers for 450 new trains". Rail Magazine.