The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) has acquired three used electric trains for research and testing at its base in south Wales. The Welsh Government's £200m flagship project acquired the three Class 360/2 EMUs from Rail Operations Group.
The trains were previously used to operate the route between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington. They were destined for scrap but will now be moved to GCRE in 2023 when GCRE's own commercial rolling stock storage facility becomes available to the wider market.
The fleet will then be used as test train 'mules' available to test ETCS, novel trains control, traction and suspension and many other railway innovations for the industry.
