Drivers who will be test driving new trains for Greater Anglia have started the initial training using simulators, the operator has announced.
Twelve train drivers are being trained on Greater Anglia's new electric commuter trains which are being built by Bombardier.
Two simulators have been installed at the training academy in Stratford.
The simulators enable drivers to learn how to use the new trains' functions, including an improved Train Control Management System.
Three routes have been programmed into the simulator – London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport, Colchester and Southend Victoria.
Different weather conditions and potential situations from snow to cows on the line can be thrown at the driver at the press of a button.
Drivers must complete a three-day course before they are able to complete their training on the real thing, still under the supervision of a driving instructor for a further two days.
Training started last week, with social distancing observed by using two classrooms and one person per simulator at a time.
What did the officials say?
Clive Bastin, senior driver training and simulator manager for Greater Anglia, said:
“The new trains are much more hi-tech than our existing fleet.
“During the simulator training we make sure that drivers are able to use all the train's different functions and features, so that they will be confident in any situation they might face when driving a real train.
“These new trains are great improvement for customers – but they're also better for drivers, with superior acceleration and braking.”
Will Tanner, Communications Director for Bombardier said;
“Starting driver training on these hi-tech simulators is another great step forward as we move closer to passenger service. Training Greater Anglia's drivers on our new British-built trains in this way is of course even more useful with social distancing measures in place.”
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Greater Anglia should be thankful for ordering the new rolling stocks. And recruiting new train drivers to drive the new trains. As well current train drivers that have already got the experience from driving trains from when they have started.
But the sad thing is that Greater Anglia does not want to keep the Class 379s and there is a uncertain future for the 30 Class 379 Electrostar units.
Which is to be replaced by the 12-Car Class 745/1 and Class 720/1 10-Car and Class 720/5 5-Car EMU units for the Stansted Express, Hertford East and West Anglia services.
The Class 720/1 10-Car and Class 720/5 5-Car Aventras will be working on the
London Liverpool Street to-
Braintree (via Witham)
Chelmsford
Colchester
Colchester Town (via Colchester)
Ipswich
Southend Victoria
Southminster (via Wickford)
Clacton-on-Sea (via Colchester)
Walton-on-the-Naze (via Colchester or Colchester Town)
Harwich Town (via Manningtree)
Manningtree
London Liverpool Street to-
Cambridge
Cambridge North
Ely
Bishops Stortford
Harlow Town
Hertford East
And on electrified branch lines including-
Crouch Valley Line (Wickford-Southminster)
Mayflower Line (Manningtree-Harwich Town)
Sunshine Lines (Colchester-Colchester Town, Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze via Thorpe-le-Soken) and
Stratford-Hertford East (with shuttle service to Meridian Water)
Class 745/1 Flirt will be working on the “Stansted Express”
London Liverpool Street to
Stansted Airport (direct)
Class 745/0 & Class 745/1 Flirt have already started service on the “Intercity”
London Liverpool Street to
Norwich
Ipswich and
Colchester
And the Class 755/3 and Class 755/4 Flirt have already started service on the “Regional/Local”
Bittern Line (Norwich-Sheringham (via Cromer))
Wherry Lines (Norwich-Great Yarmouth & Lowestoft)
Norwich-Cambridge & Stansted Airport
East Suffolk Lines (Ipswich-Felixstowe & Lowestoft)
Ipswich-Cambridge
Ipswich-Peterborough (via Ely)
Gainsborough Line (Marks Tey-Sudbury (sometimes terminating at Colchester))