Abellio Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[MisterT]

What's in the big section with no windows? On photos of full length units I've seen, there's the same no windows section on the other half unit.

The 12 car units are basically 2 x 6 car units without the whole cab in the middle (and have probably just a small panel for driving around in the depot).
The section without the windows is just like the other side with the full cab, so it contains some equipment, like the traction equipment for the powered bogie underneath it.

 

[D6700]

The 10 car units are basically 2 x 5 car units without the whole cab in the middle.

Not being pedantic, but for accuracy, these are 12 car units, made up of 2 x 6 car half sets.

 

[MisterT]

Oops, got the number of units (2x 10) mixed up with the actual train length. Changed my post.

 

[TRAX]

What's in the big section with no windows? On photos of full length units I've seen, there's the same no windows section on the other half unit.

Universal toilet or electrical equipment.

 

[Doomotron]

Bin the bins hopefully. Although with the money spent on them I assume the DfT has a new life planned.

Oh OK, I thought that maybe they had slightly changed their plans with them. Maybe it would be a good idea to send them to Northern instead of the 319s, considering how much of an improvement they'd be.

 

[James321]

The class 755 look very good design - But one things one door at each of carriages can easily crowded its not good, Its should be two doors at each of carriages.

 

[GB]

Think the overhang between leading (and last) wheel sets, and front/end of train may give rise to a few platforming problems in the future !

I would like to see what the clearance is like into P3 at Ipswich via 1327pts. Looks close with the current hauled services so must be even tighter with these.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What's in the big section with no windows? On photos of full length units I've seen, there's the same no windows section on the other half unit.

Above floor traction equipment. Because it's a low-floor design (the design is for *proper* low floor for mainland Europe, the UK version is just an adaptation, though in UK terms it is still low-floor), it won't fit under the floor. The same section is present on the cab end, and a 12-car is just two units permanently coupled so need that at both ends.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Universal toilet or electrical equipment.

The bog is in the middle of a low-floor section. Putting it above the bogie would negate the whole point of the low floor idea!

It's traction equipment which in a low floor unit can't go under the floor. All FLIRTs are the same in this regard.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Bin the bins hopefully. Although with the money spent on them I assume the DfT has a new life planned.

Hopefully - they looked promising when I first saw the mock-ups and the photos on them, but the standard of the refurbishment is certainly not as high as I expected.

360s still the best unit on the GA network at present, the 379s are good as well, although it's sad that the upkeep of the interiors of some of them has been scaled right back.

Good to hear that they seem to have some stop-gap plans in progress in case of any delays.

 

[LAX54]

I would like to see what the clearance is like into P3 at Ipswich via 1327pts. Looks close with the current hauled services so must be even tighter with these.

They are barred from use in reverse, as are some more in the area.....fun ! lol

 

[Shunter_69]

Wait, what's happening to the Renatus units?

I was told they need to go back to have the motors fixed as they keep burning out for some reason

 

[F Great Eastern]

I was told they need to go back to have the motors fixed as they keep burning out for some reason

Bit like what has happened to peoples devices who used the plug sockets in said units before they were sealed off, which even by GA's own admission now, may be the result of a design flaw that cannot be resolved.

 

[LAX54]

Looking at some of the pictures of the 755, that overhang each end of the train, will without a doubt give rise to routing issues. (some of which are known already)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looking at some of the pictures of the 755, that overhang each end of the train, will without a doubt give rise to routing issues. (some of which are known already)

Though the cab is heavily tapered, so possibly not as many issues as you might think. The Pendolino has a similarly large cab overhang (the end vehicles are over 25m long) but avoids the problem the same way.

 

[LAX54]

Though the cab is heavily tapered, so possibly not as many issues as you might think. The Pendolino has a similarly large cab overhang (the end vehicles are over 25m long) but avoids the problem the same way.

Points mid way P3 and P2 Ipswich and the points C/E will I think give rise to a problem, as GB says they are tight on 'normal' trains !

 

[vinnym70]

The GA provided footage shows the loco-hauled Flirt heading at reasonable speed through the station they were filming at (Romford?)

If people are assuming gauging issues with these new trains then surely the initial voyages on these shores would have been a bit more conservative and timed to prevent folks filming catastrophic failures?

I fully appreciate the points being raised are with presentation of these new trains at certain platforms and certain stations but wouldn't that all have been considered beforehand?

Obviously it would be a PR catastrophe were the newest of trains on these isles to come a cropper on their delivery journey - NR, GA, Stadler and anyone else would all, to some extent, be blamed and chastised by the popular media. One can only assume the fallout were certain platforms at crucial stations to be out of use owing to unexpected train/platform interface failures - right?

 

[LAX54]

ALL trains have issues when they first run, some get removed some stay, even Class 153's have quite a few restrictions on the G.E, 360's used to too. look at SNCF when they had their new trains delivered a few years ago !
Currently the 755/745 have route restrictions, and can only be hauled dead with a loco, but as the months under testing goes by, some will be eased

 

[vinnym70]

ALL trains have issues when they first run, some get removed some stay, even Class 153's have quite a few restrictions on the G.E, 360's used to too. look at SNCF when they had their new trains delivered a few years ago !
Currently the 755/745 have route restrictions, and can only be hauled dead with a loco, but as the months under testing goes by, some will be eased

I get what you're saying BUT it makes no sense to me when ordering a whole new fleet from scratch. Surely any local oddities are baked into the bid process?
I doubt TfL would be able to fix issues if new trains on the deep tube overhung a little more than expected at the end of the units.

It makes no sense to be me that new fleets get ordered with inherent shortcomings unless there's a programme of works to make the infrastructure fit the new fleet to overcome said shortcomings.

But I'm just a layman.

 

[LAX54]

The joys of modern 21st Century trains on a Victorian Network I suppose, there will be in certain cases a bit of a mismatch, and indeed there are quite a few places the 345's are barred from too

 

[vinnym70]

The joys of modern 21st Century trains on a Victorian Network I suppose, there will be in certain cases a bit of a mismatch, and indeed there are quite a few places the 345's are barred from too

Not wanting to divert the thread but where are 345s barred from? We've seen them being tested to Southend Victoria and Witham at least.

 

[AlexNL]

I get what you're saying BUT it makes no sense to me when ordering a whole new fleet from scratch. Surely any local oddities are baked into the bid process?

Balfour Beatty have a software product, ClearRoute, which is used to verify if computer models of a train can run over infrastructure. This way it's possible to precisely determine where the infrastructure may pose challenges, and where it may be necessary to make changes.

 

[vinnym70]

Balfour Beatty have a software product, ClearRoute, which is used to verify if computer models of a train can run over infrastructure. This way it's possible to precisely determine where the infrastructure may pose challenges, and where it may be necessary to make changes.

Soo.... for those who think clearances into certain stations/platforms will be a trauma, that software should well help to quell doubts - and in any case highlight where real issues are perceived to be?

 

[Class37.4]

Given the level boarding and deployment of the ramp to the platform edge presumably these trains are likely to require more attention around the platforms than normal height stock.

 

[306024]

Not wanting to divert the thread but where are 345s barred from? We've seen them being tested to Southend Victoria and Witham at least.

Witham? They were cleared to Southend Vic for mileage accumulation, as that was the easiest line to get paths on. However that was with step boards removed, they can’t go there in passenger service. Platforms 1-4 at Liverpool St, and the up and down suburban lines from which 1-4 are accessed are barred, but that’s about all at the moment for the 7 car 345s between Liverpool St and Shenfield.

Back with bi-modes, is there not a bit of confusion for some on here between physical clearence, e.g. train hits platform, and signalling clearance where the position of the train in relation to the track circuits is the issue.

 

[306024]

The greater acceleration of the new Aventuras working the Southend trains or the (possible...) Bi-Mode Flirts working the branch?
Only a possibility of course, but the 5-car Aventuras can't fit either bay platform at Wickford. Maybe we get to keep our 321's instead?

Bi-modes on the Southminster branch as nether Wickford bay can accommodate an Aventura. Time will tell if that happens, the story changes frequently. 365s are indeed a stop-gap, if they ever appear too, but having arrived who knows?

 

[Midnight Sun]

Given the level boarding and deployment of the ramp to the platform edge presumably these trains are likely to require more attention around the platforms than normal height stock.

The flirts are more heavly tapered below the window level to allow for this.

 

[Class37.4]

The flirts are more heavly tapered below the window level to allow for this.
View attachment 55575

I know but I would have thought they may well be some issues around the extendable ramp and the platform.

 

[LAX54]

Soo.... for those who think clearances into certain stations/platforms will be a trauma, that software should well help to quell doubts - and in any case highlight where real issues are perceived to be?

well, if they have already used it, and come up with what we have currently, it will prove interesting ! lol

 

[Jonny]

What are the plans for the current Greater Anglia DMUs (apart from the 153s to Scotrail)?