New 720s (?)

[CR165022]

So, in a video posted by Sky News today, showing the PM at Derby Litchurch Lane, showed a new Aventra incomplete behind him. However it's not one of the new 345s, it's 720 length and also has red doors.

Are GA getting more 720s? I wasn't aware of any more Aventra's being built after the new 345s.

It's either that or is just some sort of demonstrator for them that was built a while ago.

 

[Tony2]

Exactly what I wanted to know as well!

 

[Cloudrak]

Looks like they could be the new Adessia units?

 

[Trainguy34]

Any chance you can send the video?

 

[Ben Conlin]

In the video on the PMs X account he’s sitting on what looks like GA seats in an incomplete carriage.

 

[Class 466]

Surely it would’ve been announced if any vehicles were being built for someone though.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Looks like they could be the new Adessia units?

Why would there be an Adessia unit being built when no one’s ordered them?

 

[Covshire1]

This image?

 

[Bayum]

Why would there be an Adessia unit being built when no one’s ordered them?

Modern Railways in 2025 said that Adessia would be based at Litchurch Lane?

 

[43096]

Looks like some sort of test bodyshell to me.

 

[Russel]

Something looks a bit off to me, is it some kind of mock-up or demonstrator kept aside for this very kind of visit?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

is it some kind of mock-up or demonstrator kept aside

It would make sense to be a demonstrator. Unfortunately the news banner is keeping us from getting a good view of the wheels.

Did anyone see it at The Greatest Gathering? I'm not sure how much area was free to explore so not sure if it could have just been hidden in a closed off area.

 

[Russel]

It would make sense to be a demonstrator. Unfortunately the news banner is keeping us from getting a good view of the wheels.

Did anyone see it at The Greatest Gathering? I'm not sure how much area was free to explore so not sure if it could have just been hidden in a closed off area.

It looks quite low to the ground so it may not be on wheels.

 

[Obar123]

It looks quite low to the ground so it may not be on wheels.

Yeah you are right. Look under the UK at the bottom right on the banner, you can see it is on a stand.

Edit: I am wrong, the BBC show it with no banner and it is just a step to get in the door.

 

[_toommm_]

It would make sense to be a demonstrator. Unfortunately the news banner is keeping us from getting a good view of the wheels.

Did anyone see it at The Greatest Gathering? I'm not sure how much area was free to explore so not sure if it could have just been hidden in a closed off area.

I certainly don't recognise it from the greatest gathering, but wasn't that nearly a year ago now?

 

[Russel]

This image?

Is there a link to this live stream anywhere?

 

[sad1e]

TikTok - Make Your Day

This video on Andy Burnham's TikTok seems to show an interior view of the coaches.

 

[Class 466]

There’s another video circulating and it’s got the same front as the WMT 730s. Screenshot attached. Posted today by the Department for Education accounts.

 

[Russel]

There’s another video circulating and it’s got the same front as the WMT 730s. Screenshot attached. Posted today by the Department for Education accounts.

It must be some kind of testbed/mock-up then.

I wonder why they didn't use one of the new 345s under construction?

 

[Chris125]

Interestingly the photo released today of the Adessia UK show a conventional, non-articulated design (24m?) despite the doors suggesting some kind of low floor layout. Previous renders suggested an articulated design like the new Irish units.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Interestingly the photo released today of the Adessia UK show a conventional, non-articulated design (24m?) despite the doors suggesting some kind of low floor layout. Previous renders suggested an articulated design like the new Irish units.

I wonder how long before it gets an order

 

[Mikey C]

I wonder how long before it gets an order

Southeastern would seem the obvious one. It would be embarrassing for the new PM to do a big video at Derby about manufacturing skills, if a big order like this was to go elsewhere.

 

[fgwrich]

Southeastern would seem the obvious one. It would be embarrassing for the new PM to do a big video at Derby about manufacturing skills, if a big order like this was to go elsewhere.

We’re certainly bordering on the speculation side of things here but, I would say the likelier contenders are between Alstom and Siemens - both of course will need work, both have a significant UK presence. Neither Hitachi and CAF have particularly covered themselves in glory of late, more so the former.

 

[Russel]

We’re certainly bordering on the speculation side of things here but, I would say the likelier contenders are between Alstom and Siemens - both of course will need work, both have a significant UK presence. Neither Hitachi and CAF have particularly covered themselves in glory of late, more so the former.

Problem is, with things like this, we don't learn from mistakes and will just go for the cheapest option.

 

[Ben Conlin]

Siemens have released images of their desiro verve earlier in the year and looks similar except the doors are closer together in the middle with the middle windows being lower. If this is the ready for market Adessia in the UK then it looks like they’ve been able to lower the whole train to platform height whilst keeping a pretty consistent floor height inside.

 

[800001]

It must be some kind of testbed/mock-up then.

I wonder why they didn't use one of the new 345s under construction?

At Litchurch Lane they have a training section with a carriage inside the area, which I presume is the one in the picture above.

I've attached a picture i took at the Derby open day, I assume it's the same carriage.

 

[Russel]

At Litchurch Lane they have a training section with a carriage inside the area, which I presume is the one in the picture above.

I've attached a picture i took at the Derby open day, I assume it's the same carriage.

Well, that solves this mystery then!

 

[RUK]

Interestingly the photo released today of the Adessia UK show a conventional, non-articulated design (24m?) despite the doors suggesting some kind of low floor layout. Previous renders suggested an articulated design like the new Irish units.

It looks like an Aventra with a slight face-lift - the cab wind-screen looks the same to me:

https://www.alstom.com/sites/alstom.com/files/styles/large_media_cover/public/2026/07/28/Adessia%201.png?h=3548d66e&itok=PuZgl9vA

It looks 20 metres long, since it’s got 4 windows in between the doors, as opposed to the 5 windows in the 24-metre long Aventras.

Similar to how the X'Trapolis Ireland was just re-named an Adessia, but without any changes.

 

[Ben Conlin]

It looks like an Aventra with a slight face-lift - the cab wind-screen looks the same to me:

https://www.alstom.com/sites/alstom.com/files/styles/large_media_cover/public/2026/07/28/Adessia%201.png?h=3548d66e&itok=PuZgl9vA

Similar to how the X'Trapolis Ireland was just re-named an Adessia, but without any changes.

The doors look like they have a sliding step for level access, they would surely need to lower the floor for that to work though?

 

[RUK]

The doors look like they have a sliding step for level access, they would surely need to lower the floor for that to work though?

Yes - the floor by the doors looks slightly lower than the rest of the interior floor for level boarding, so presumably they’ve got ramps inside on either side of the doors, like the FLIRTs have.