The train has been designed to be lighter and more efficient, with increased reliability. It will have a lightweight structure made of welded assemblies bolted together into a carriage, wide gangways and doors to shorten boarding times in stations, and ERTMS. The design incorporates FlexxEco bogies which have been used in service on Voyagers and newer Turbostars. The gangway is designed to allow maximum use of the interior space and ease of movement throughout the train.
Orders
As of December 2017, 2,618 vehicles have been ordered for six operators:
The first order for Bombardier Aventras covered 65 Class 345 nine-car EMUs for the London Crossrail project. These will be operated by Crossrail concession holder MTR Crossrail. In July 2017, it was announced that the order would be increased to 70 trains; the contract for the additional trains was signed in March 2018.
has ordered 54 four-car trains, with an option remaining for 15 more, similar to those being used for Crossrail. They will replace Class 315, 317 and 172 on Lea Valley and Gospel Oak lines and will be operated by London Overground concession holder Arriva Rail London.
In August 2016, Greater Anglia was awarded the new East Anglia franchise, and announced an order with Bombardier for Class 720 units, formed of 22 ten-car trains and 89 five-car trains as part of a full fleet replacement programme.
On 20 June 2017, Bombardier was awarded a contract to build 750 cars for South Western Railway. The Class 701 units will be formed into 30 five-car and 60 ten-car sets and replace the entirety of the 455, 456, 458 and 707 suburban fleet currently used by SWR.
On 17 October 2017, Bombardier was selected to provide a total of 333 Class 730 EMU vehicles for West Midlands Trains. These will be formed into three separate types; 36 three-car high capacity 'Metro' units, 29 five-car units for outer suburban services, and 16 five-car units for London-Birmingham services.
In December 2017, c2c ordered six 10-car Aventra units, to come into service in summer 2021. These will replace six 4-car units leased from 2017.
Bombardier Aventra variants
Bombardier has also proposed a bi-mode version of the Aventra to potentially replace the Bombardier Turbostar and Voyager platforms, intended to be capable of speeds up to.
