AWC introduced Evero EMUs as services to Liverpool increase

On 1 November 2024, Avanti West Coast’s 350 million GBP investment in its new Evero fleet reached an important milestone with their first run in service on the Liverpool to London route. Evero 807 001 departed Liverpool Lime Street at 09.01 h, returning later in the day, to supplement the current hourly service. These additional weekday departures are part of AWC’s plans to run more services between Liverpool and the capital.

As well as Liverpool, the new seven-car trains, each having 451 seats, will also run between London, the West Midlands and Blackpool, with further increases planned as part of next month’s timetable uplift. This follows the inaugural Class 807 passenger service between London and Birmingham last month, building on the successful launch of its Class 805 Evero stablemate, which recently celebrated 150 days in service on the West Midlands, Chester and North Wales routes.

Maintained at Alstom’s Midlands Traincare Facility Oxley depot in the West Midlands, the 23 strong Evero fleet includes the 10 seven-car Class 807 EMUs as well as the 13 five-car Class 805 EDMUs which are replacing the Voyager DMUs - offering a greener alternative. They will work alongside the Pendolinos, which have recently undergone the largest ever fleet upgrade in the UK thanks to a 117 million GBP investment. 

Built by Hitachi at its factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, the Evero fleet is quieter and roomier than its predecessor. Customer benefits include wireless charging for electrical devices, improved Wi-Fi, more seats than the trains they replace and greater legroom thanks to a more ergonomic design, larger luggage racks and more real-time customer information screens which are easier to read. The new trains also feature improved wheelchair spaces with contrasting carpet and a large accessibility symbol, so customers do not place their luggage in this space. There will be improvements to the accessible toilets compared to the previous fleet as well as Braille and large print labels on seats.

New Evero fleet was introduced in June 2024 and will replace Voyagers. Built by Hitachi, the fleet will serve routes from London to the Midlands, Chester, North Wales and the North West, leading to a substantial cut in carbon emissions. Avanti West Coast, operator of intercity rail services on the West Coast Main Line, is a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia.