UK: The first of the Civity UK multiple-units ordered for Arriva’s Northern franchise in northern England are now under construction at CAF’s factories at Irun and Zaragoza in Spain.

The 25 two-car and 30 three-car Class 195 diesel multiple-units and 31 three-car and 12 four-car 25 kV 50 Hz Class 331 electric multiple-units were ordered by leasing company Eversholt Rail at a cost of £492m in January 2016. The DMUs are to be used on Northern Connect branded services, facilitating a cascade of existing rolling stock which Northern confirms will enable the ‘complete removal’ of the 1980s Class 14x Pacer DMUs from the franchise by the end of 2019.

The first of the new units is expected to be completed this autumn, and will go to the Velim test track in the Czech Republic next year. An initial unit is expected arrive in the UK in spring 2018, with SNC Lavalin providing certification services. Entry into service is scheduled for December 2018, with all 98 units are expected to be in traffic by 2020.