Greater Anglia has confirmed to RailAdvent that they are leasing Class 317/7s as part of their programme to make their train fleet fully compliant with PRM regulations.
A total of 8 Class 317/7s will enter service with Greater Anglia for their West Anglia train services.
The Class 317/7s were withdrawn earlier in 2020 by London Overground after being replaced by Class 710s on the West Anglia Inner Routes for London Overground.
These trains, although withdrawn from service, have been in ‘warm storage' at Wembley Yard since being withdrawn.
Greater Anglia told RailAdvent in a statement “As part of our programme to make our train fleet fully compliant with PRM regulations as soon as possible and improve accessibility arrangements, we have leased 8 x Class 317/7s for use on West Anglia services on a short term basis. We also have a dispensation for the use of some unmodified Class 317s until 31 May 2021. These actions provide a sensible way of making as much progress as is practically possible, as quickly as we can, ahead of the issues all being resolved as our new trains roll out programme continues and is then all completed in 2022.”
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Mainly these will continue to work on Liverpool Street-Cambridge, Cambridge North, Kings Lynn, Hertford East and Bishops Stortford. Stratford-Meridian Water, Hertford East, Bishops Stortford, Cambridge, Cambridge North & Kings Lynn and Cambridge-Stansted Airport. Until the Class 720s have been delivering and begun operating on the West Anglia, Great Eastern and branch lines in Essex.
Good to see the Class 317/7s back in service and to be used on Greater Anglia as they were used on London Overground Lea Valley Lines and Romford-Upminster shuttle service before the Class 710/1s replaced them. Will they still be used on West Anglia services and Essex commuter services.