New fleet of trains roll on to Harrogate line

Commuters will have access to wifi, power sockets and air-conditioning on the 170s

Refurbished class 170 trains bearing the blue livery of the rail operator began their first day of service on the York and Leeds via Harrogate route.

While older pacer trains are expected to remain in use on the networks routes they are expected to be phased out by roughly 2020.

Ben Ackroyd, Engineering Director at Northern said: “Sending this first Class 170 into service is another milestone in Northern’s programme of train upgrades as we invest millions in improving our existing fleet and phasing out the old Pacer trains.

One of the new fleet of trains at Harrogate station

“Customers will experience a real upgrade in the quality of train currently serving this area of Northern’s network. The Class 170 gives a first look at some of the fantastic new features we will be installing on all of our existing fleet over the next few years.”

A total of 16 of the news trains will be transferred to Northern over 2018 from ScotRail. They are to form part of the operator's wider modernisation program which will also see 80 new trains, an upgrade to all of their fleet and stations along with 2,000 extra services a week by 2019.

Commuters will have access to air conditioners, wifi and power sockets on the new trains.

Sophia Chaudhry, who travels from Hornbeam Park to York, said: “It is much more comfortable and I feel like there is more space. I could get some work done at the tables on the train now and the free wifi and power is great.”