Transfast Motion Class 790

### Lines Served

South Ourcity Commuter ConnectMarks Cross ConnectNew Street ConnectSouth Downs Line

The Class 790 is an Electric Multiple Unit manufactured by Transfast Motion for usage on the national railway network of Ourcity. The unit design was unveiled in January 2021 as a commercial design for the high capacity heavy urban rail market. Bradrail ordered a large number of units for both their commuter rail network and Connect brand in May 2021, with construction starting in June. The first unit entered service with Bradrail on September 2nd 2021 on New Street to Warley Oaks / Harlesden services as well as extra capacity on the Hayes branch. The units will be rolled out to various other lines when construction and testing has completed.

## Design

The Class 790 is designed with metro-style high-capacity services along heavy urban rail lines in mind, having three sets of doors per carriage to maximise boarding capacity. The units feature a mix of transverse and longitudinal seating throughout, as well as one wheelchair, pushchair and bicycle accessible zone per carriage. The trains also have brand new LCD next stop information displays which also show information regarding metro line statuses and onward travel information. Traditional orange LED Dot Matrix displays show destination information on the front of the trains. The class 790 currently has two options for carriage numbers, those being in 5 and 8 car formations. 5

car units may be coupled up to form 10 car units for extra capacity, although this is not common-practice across Bradrail services, as most services are operated by 8 car units, with 5 car examples being operated on lines that require their shorter length. 8 car and 5 car units are unable to be used in service whilst coupled, although are permitted to couple for ECS Empty Stock Movements to and from the depot. The units are able to be operated on both overhead and third-rail power due to dual-voltage equipment. Toilets are available in the front and rear carriages only on 5 car units, with an additional toilet in the fourth carriage of 8 car services. No First Class facilities are available onboard the trains with Bradrail. The units were initially designed to be 3 and 4 car trains, which was included in early renditions of advertisement for the units, although this was later revised during Bradrail's order process. The 3 and 4 car options may become available for order during the process for other operators. The units feature walk-through gangways into other carriages, making them feel spacious and as if they were formed of one long carriage. The class 790s carriages have a higher individual length compared to most trains in Ourcity, making longer carriage formations unable to fit down shorter routes that may be able to handle more carriages with other units.

## Usage

The Class 790 units are deployed across Bradrail's commuter services, with most being branded with 'BC' Bradrail Connect logos for their corresponding services. All 8 car units have this branding, with around half of the 5 car units also having it applied. The units are operated on South Ourcity Commuter Connect services including the Hayes Branch, Marks Cross Connect services towards St Albans and Maidenhead, as well as New Street Connect services towards Warley Oaks and Harlesden. The units are also used on select services along the South Downs Line towards Swanley, Marway and Lakefield, as well as select peak regional services towards Southminster. Trains on the latter two lines do not carry Connect branding. The units do not serve the Maidenhead - Shoeburyness / Prittlewell services, as these are reserved for Aventra units only.