Performance tests on Greater Anglia's brand new trains are continuing, despite the Coronavirus crisis.
Greater Anglia is replacing every single train with brand new ones, including 111 trains from the UK thanks to Bombardier.
There are now four Bombardier trains on the Greater Anglia network, but before they can enter service, they have to complete a series of tests.
Ian McConnell, Greater Anglia franchise and programmes director, said: “We have to test trains' equipment, such as the pantograph – which connects the train to the overhead wire to get power, doors, passenger information system and other on-board systems.
“We carry out checks to see how the trains interact with signals and overhead lines and we need to see how they perform at different speeds across the routes where they will be in passenger service.
“We're looking for any faults that might develop after the trains have put some miles on the clock as we want to make sure that once they're in service, they're as reliable as possible.”
Will Tanner, Bombardier Transportation Communications Director, said: “We can't wait to get these British-designed and -built trains into service, but state-of-the-art trains means it's even more important to test everything before passenger service begins. We and Greater Anglia are working as a team to make the most of the extra time available to us on their network.”
Recent tests have included electromagnetic compatibility across the network including Hertford East, Norwich, Southend, Cambridge and Ipswich.
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I use both Greater Anglia and c2c. But not at the moment because of the Coronavirus restrictions. And I can’t wait to see the Class 720s Aventra units coming into service throughout this year (2020) and next year (2021).
To clarify. 22 10-Car Class 720/1 and 89 5-Car Class 720/5 for Greater Anglia are to be used on West Anglia, Great Eastern and branch lines. And to replace the Class 317, Class 321, Class 360 and Class 379 EMU rolling stocks. With Class 360/1s Desiro units cascaded to EMR and Class 379 Electrostars cascaded elsewhere whoever wants the Class 379 units.
6 10-Car Class 720/6 (formerly Class 711) are used for c2c to be used on Fenchurch St-Southend Central, Shoeburyness, Laindon, Basildon, Pitsea, Leigh-on-Sea, Tilbury Town and Stanford-le-Hope. And to replace the Class 387/3 Electrostar units that are used on hire should be cascaded elsewhere.
Haven’t seen the new 720,s yet , but have seen many class 745/755 units and travelled on them , am very impressed with them
And also forgotten to mention that Bombardier are to manufacture 6 Class 720/6 Aventras that will be 10-Car and to replace the Class 387/3 on the c2c network (but not replacing the 74 Class 357s). Which will be in service from next year.
And there for the Class 387/3s to be cascaded to Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express or Great Western Railway or Great Northern to work with the other Class 387 Electrostar units as they are dual voltage units.
I still think that Bombardier are the best train manufacturers in the world when it comes to building & manufacturing new trains, trams and light rail vehicles. The Bombardier Aventra EMUs (Class 701, Class 710, Class 720 and Class 730) are the predecessors of the Bombardier Electrostar (Class 357, Class 375, Class 376, Class 377, Class 378, Class 379 and Class 387) and Gautrain Electrostar numbered as “Class 301”. Will Bombardier also manufacture the Bi-mode/Tri-Mode Aventras (either classed as in Class 7xx or Class 8xx Category).
And also Bombardier to manufacture new tube stocks for the London Underground deep level lines including for replacing the Bakerloo Line 1973 Stock and Central Line and Waterloo & City Line 1992 Stocks. As they have recently built the Victoria Line 2009 Stock and the S7 & S8 Stocks for the Circle, Hammersmith & City, District and Metropolitan Lines.
Dear Mr Gwilt,
I am not sure the rest of industry will agree with you, given Bombardier’s record so far!
Class 701 is not predecessor of Electrostar. It is the the other way around.