Greater Anglia is continuing with its programme to replace its entire fleet with new trains.
The first new train to enter passenger service this year is a UK-built electric commuter train going into operation on the Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street. That will bring the total number of new trains in the Greater Anglia fleet to 103.
New trains are now running on every route on the Greater Anglia network except between Ely and Kings Lynn, where they will arrive later this year.
The new trains are longer than the ones they have replaced, and have more seats, plug and USB sockets at every seat, free fast Wi-Fi, and climate-controlled air conditioning.
Every train has improved accessibility features such as accessible toilets, wheelchair areas, passenger information systems, call for aid buttons, and priority seating.
Priority seats are available to anyone, but when appropriate, those who can stand are encouraged to offer them to others around them who may have a non-visible impairment, are pregnant, or are less able to stand.
Most of Greater Anglia's regional, intercity, and Stansted Express services are now operated by trains with low floors and retractable steps that bridge the gap between the train and platform. As more new trains arrive, the old trains are being retired so that Greater Anglia's entire fleet now meets modern accessibility standards.
Greater Anglia's other new trains, which operate on routes in Essex and on West Anglia services, have two wheelchair spaces and one accessible toilet per five carriage train, and four wheelchair spaces and two accessible toilets when running as ten carriages.
Martin Beable, Greater Anglia's Engineering Director, said, “With the removal of old trains from service, and more brand-new trains entering service regularly, our transformation of the railway in East Anglia has reached another positive milestone.
“This will make it much easier for people to travel with confidence on our network in future.”
Might as well start getting rid of the Class 317, Class 321 and Class 379 Electrostars. With the Class 379s to be cascaded to Great Northern and Class 321 to be stored and hopefully converted into Class 600 “Breeze” Hydrogen MU and Class 317 to be sent for scrap.
Not a mention of the Ramp between the Carriages that make people stumble when there walking through then…😨😨😨
Good to hear the continuing upgrade of GA’s train fleet. Now all that needs to happen in the region is for its network to expand / reopen old routes that were so badly affected by the 60s rail cuts.
doubt it.
There is a lot of scope for GA to organise additional local buses that align to train times, and expand reach of “plus bus” ticketing scheme, including ability to get online tickets to allow use of bus as first leg of a combined journey.
For example: Sheringham to Holt/Fakenham (current bus service does not align well to trains, reach Fakenham, and doesn’t even allow end of work day early evening travel to join trains.
Sheringham to Fakenham via Melton would replicate the M&GN routes closed in 1960’s and should be possible to meet hourly trains at Sheringham with 2 vehicles on constant circulation.