Greater Anglia has released the first images of the new trains which will arrive in East Anglia from 2019.
The completed body shells, which are being painted in Greater Anglia livery, are the first trains off the production line.
They will become part of the Greater Anglia trains and will operate in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and North Essex from 2019 onwards.
The carriage shells were manufactured by Stadler in Hungary, and are now being fitted out with interiors in Switzerland – seats, wifi, air-con!
Stadler will build 58 trains in total. The rest are being built in Derby by Bombardier.
What did the officials say?
Greater Anglia Managing Director Jamie Burles said: “We're very excited about our new trains. When you see photos like this it's possible to imagine what an amazing change to our customers' journeys these brand-new trains will make. There will be more seats. Everyone will be able to plug in their mobile phones or laptops, and with fast free wifi on every train, people will even be able to Facetime their friends and family while they travel, making the most of every minute.
“This is part of the transformation of the railway in East Anglia. By introducing high-quality new trains, offering more convenient and more reliable journeys, we hope to make train travel even better and our customers' lives a little easier.”
Hein van der Schoot, managing director of Stadler, UK, and the Netherlands, added: “This is a significant milestone in the process of manufacturing 58 new trains for Greater Anglia, bringing us one step closer to delivering the new fleet, over the next couple of years. Building Stadler trains typically take place in at least two locations, to take advantage of regional expertise and skill. The bodyshells will now transfer from Hungary to Stadler's headquarters in Bussnang, where internal fittings will be installed. They will then be attached to bogies and moved to the commissioning site in Erlen in Switzerland ahead of final completion.”
- Visit the Greater Anglia website
For more information
