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ROLLING STOCK/DEPOTS Class 720 train on test, May 2020.
MALCOLM DOBELL
New Trains in a Pandemic
Introducing Greater Anglia’s new Aventra trains into service
I (Left) Wheelchair space. (Right) Universal toilet.
n August 2016 Abellio was awarded a long-term franchise to run the Greater Anglia network from October 2016 for nine years to 2025. The big surprise was the commitment to replace the entire fleet of trains between January 2019 and October 2020. This represented an investment of some ÂŁ1.4 billion.
A total of 38 Stadler Flirt bi-mode trains were selected, comprising 14 three-car and 24 fourcar units, for the more rural, largely unelectrified routes (Class 755/3 and 755/4). Stadler Flirt all-electric trains were selected, comprising 10 twelve-car units in all-standard-class accommodation for Stansted Express services (Class 745/1) and 10 twelve-car units with first and standard class accommodation and a bistro for the London-Norwich inter-city route (Class 745/0). These were financed by Rock Rail.
Rail Engineer | Issue 188 | Jan-Feb 2021
For the extensive London commuter network, 111 Bombardier Aventra trains were ordered with 89 five-car and 22 ten-car units, financed by Angel Trains. This order was flexed in mid-2020; the ten-car trains were replaced by five-car units, so the order was now for a total of 133 five-car units (Class 720/5). The number of cars - 665 remained the same. The Stadler trains entered service between July 2019 and December 2020. The first Bombardier train entered service in November 2020.
