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Abellio Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

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MikePJ

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10 Dec 2015
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As in Brush or Fawlty?

(On the subject of nicknames, I think the GA class 720s ought to be known as Waldorfs... as in Stadler and Waldorf, the two old guys in the theatre box in the Muppet Show...)

Edit: presumably as in Fawlty, given the teething troubles.
 

chubs

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30 Oct 2012
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Hasn't pretty much every new fleet introduced in the UK had teething troubles? Even the old junk lamented so much back in BR days?
 

Wivenswold

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Hasn't pretty much every new fleet introduced in the UK had teething troubles? Even the old junk lamented so much back in BR days?
Yes and every time new rolling stock comes along some act like it's a unique event. Not only new stock, modified stock, refurbished stock and even reallocated stock.
 

ac6000cw

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Looked like 755422 wasn't a happy bunny yesterday at Cambridge - ROG cl.37 in attendance at about 18:00 (best as I can tell from RTT, the Flirt had arrived at 13:25 from Norwich and sat in platform 5 for the rest of the afternoon....)

IMG_20191020_174740_2.jpg
 

168001

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Oxford
Looked like 755422 wasn't a happy bunny yesterday at Cambridge - ROG cl.37 in attendance at about 18:00 (best as I can tell from RTT, the Flirt had arrived at 13:25 from Norwich and sat in platform 5 for the rest of the afternoon....)

View attachment 69676

just need another 37 on the other end and we can call it the short set again.
 

ashkeba

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13 May 2019
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Unable to use the wash plant yet. Something to do with the chemicals in the solution & the body side film.
Come on, get out there with soap, bucket and long handle brush, 1950s style.

Or just put a motorbike with its back wheel off the bank by Trowse swing bridge:
 

trebor79

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Unable to use the wash plant yet. Something to do with the chemicals in the solution & the body side film.
Was wondering why the windows seem to be getting progressively more difficult to see through in low sun!
 

dk1

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Come on, get out there with soap, bucket and long handle brush, 1950s style.

Or just put a motorbike with its back wheel off the bank by Trowse swing bridge:
That has been done BIG style on night shift thanks to the wonderful Norwich station carriage cleaning team who brought the IC sets back earlier this year.
 

trebor79

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Huzzah!
Just need to get some into traffic now. And (OT I know) some 745s on the London service. Currently "enjoying" a 321 home...
 

dk1

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Huzzah!
Just need to get some into traffic now. And (OT I know) some 745s on the London service. Currently "enjoying" a 321 home...
Seems to have gone very quiet on the main line introduction. Awful dusty bin ride. Don't envy you. Bad enough when I get them just between Norwich/Ipswich.

Can't wait to sample a 3-car in AC mode. These will be the fastest in the fleet yet slowest on diesel.
 
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Railperf

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Huzzah!
Just need to get some into traffic now. And (OT I know) some 745s on the London service. Currently "enjoying" a 321 home...
Oops wrong thread for 745's
Enjoy the 'dusty bins' while they last lol. I love the sound of a screaming 321 trying to get to 100mph lol.
 

samuelmorris

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It would appear ORR have at last authorised the 755/3 fleet.
Any ideas what the hold up was? (and indeed, how many units there are ready to be accepted now that they're authorised for use? Or can that process only begin now?)

Oops wrong thread for 745's
Enjoy the 'dusty bins' while they last lol. I love the sound of a screaming 321 trying to get to 100mph lol.
Sad I know but I will miss that sound when it's gone, along with the motor-generator sound on old tube stock. Being from where I am, that's what trains sounded like to me as a child, in much the same way people who grew up in the steam area will associate with that.
 

F Great Eastern

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Any ideas when we will see the /3s in service?

Will miss the 321s in general as spent many years on them, despite their terrible angled seats, they were a hugely important part of Essex commuter services for such a long time, however I won't miss the poor quality Renatus refurb.
 

dk1

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The 755/3s have done next to nothing so it's starting from scratch with some fault free running. There are 11 in the country so just another 3 to arrive. I think as there are an extra 10 the 755/4s where prioritised. Richard Clinnick reported the 9th of this class (755419) was accepted by GA today.
 

Railperf

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The 755/3s have done next to nothing so it's starting from scratch with some fault free running. There are 11 in the country so just another 3 to arrive. I think as there are an extra 10 the 755/4s where prioritised. Richard Clinnick reported the 9th of this class (755419) was accepted by GA today.
How many of the 9 in service today?
 

Railperf

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Seems to have gone very quiet on the main line introduction. Awful dusty bin ride. Don't envy you. Bad enough when I get them just between Norwich/Ipswich.

Can't wait to sample a 3-car in AC mode. These will be the fastest in the fleet yet slowest on diesel.
Can't wait to sample a 3 or 4-car in AC mode. Crazy power to weight ratio - better than any UK high speed train
 

dk1

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How many of the 9 in service today?
Been off today so didn't pay much attention. I think six is the record so far in passenger traffic with others in non-stop driver training. I did catch a train to Wroxham earlier & three where at Norwich station.
 

bspahh

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5 Jan 2017
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So if I was to want to go and ride on one today, where might I find one in service?

Recently, most of the Greater Anglia Cambridge-Norwich trains have been 755s during the week. At the weekend, platform extension at Waterbeach means that Ely station has had more buses than trains.

Today, there is a bus replacement service between Ely and Cambridge, and Ely and Peterborough. It looks like there are alternating Greater Anglia (probably 755) and East Midlands (158) trains between Ely and Norwich. You could also return from Norwich to Ely via Ipswich.
 

Wuffle

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1 Oct 2019
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The 19:02 Norwich - Lowestoft last Weds was a FLIRT - I've been told that it is the normal timetabling
spacious and as others have said the floor is low and almost at platform level - we sat in the higher seats - found the seat to be quite upright
 

Bletchleyite

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OK, so after a LOT of buses (including a manky double decker on the X5) I've managed to track one down on Ely-Norwich which is giving me an hour or so to try one out!

Impressions so far...
  • Low floor and gap bridge good - should be mandatory. I was however surprised that the gap bridge bridged the gap fully then pulled back about 1" - is this a fault? The Swiss ones don't do this, they fully bridge the gap.
  • Build quality very good as expected, though there are some bits that aren't quite as good as the norm for Stadler - the top of the panel covering the external PIS display is a bit cock-eyed and there are some squeaks from the articulated joint.
  • As quiet as LHCS - in a middle coach you can't even hear an EMU like whine.
  • Acceleration average - 195s are quicker off the mark, I was surprised at this - I think unless they are driving them very carefully the 3-car units will be underpowered.
  • Interior colour scheme absolutely spot on - fake wood, dark seats, red carpets and leather headrests - seriously classy.
  • Lighting a bit bright but better than most modern kit. Slightly flickery as LEDs tend to be, but I'm unusually sensitive to this so most won't notice it.
  • Seats (FISA LEAN) are basically very similar to Grammer E3000 "Desiro seats" - but not quite as comfortable (I think because they are very slightly more upright). So Grammer are, I'm afraid, not "unseated" (!) as my preferred supplier. Also the back is thicker than the E3000 which means less legroom in the airline seats (there is *only just* enough for me though it is acceptable and slightly more than the non-priority seats in a 350). The niche is useless for those who will most need it - it needs to go, like Class 175s, at the outside of the seats, not in the middle. Acceptable, though - and certainly preferable to the "amputee seats" of a Class 153.
  • Ride decent, no banging like the 195 and very smooth generally, but a bit of a side to side shudder at times. Edit: the shudder or possibly the LED lighting flicker is making me feel a bit queasy :(
  • Window alignment not bad - certainly better than Class 195. It has at least been thought about even if it isn't 100%.
  • Emergency window - appallingly and probably dangerously stupid piece of design which also mean that window isn't good for looking out of. To open one you have to remove the key from a wall mounted case (which is just screwed on and I have not a clue from looking at it how to open the case - the pictures on the sign don't resemble the actual box). If needed in a panic there are all sorts of things that could go wrong here e.g. dropping the key or fiddling to fit it. If not in a panic you'd just use the regular door. Seriously - this is the worst piece of emergency exit design I have ever seen, and they need ripping out and replacing with break-glass hammers, Euro-style "pull the rubber bit" ones or something similar. I am utterly amazed they comply with anything.
  • Window-mounted external display takes up too much of the window and should be smaller and higher up. The bay/airline rows with that have a Pendolino sized mini window. Other windows large, but too many are obstructed in this sort of way so the effect is spoilt.
  • Windows appear to be covered in some kind of external film with a 2mm-ish grid on it. I have no idea what this is for but it distorts the view out, and it is not present on any other FLIRT I have ever been on. Awful, almost as bad as Contravision (though not quite). Needs removing. Almost as annoying as the distortion you get from the film that has been badly fitted to almost all 323s.
  • Brakes a bit noisy - are they tread brakes?
  • And now for a really bad bit which they have in common with the Class 195 - cantilever mounted seats and a massive heating duct mean the window seat is seriously unpleasant to sit in - you can't *not* have your leg against it, and when it's on that's very uncomfortable. It appears the duct is a standard Stadler design (same as the Swiss units) but is in the "wrong place" due to the sidewalls not being vertical unlike other FLIRTs. This is seriously poor design. Why is it that only the Pendolino manages to keep this suitably small? You could put your foot on top (as I like doing) - but in table seats or for anyone who doesn't like doing that this is a seriously bad piece of design.
  • Overhead racks not needed (only got a small bag with me and it's near empty) but look suitably large, I reckon my "test piece" 120l rucksack would fit easily.
  • Decent sized bike etc area at one end (I think).
  • Big window frames good for resting your arm on.
  • Don't need a wee so not used the bog! I'm sure it's a standard modular one though, and at least the small one is in use as I saw someone else use it. 2 bogs - the correct number for a unit this size.
  • Rather than a mix of seat directions it seems to be mostly facing the cabs in the end vehicles. This isn't great - a Class 158 style layout would be better.
So in summary - Stadler quality, nice looking interior (possibly the nicest in the UK so far - TPE being a close second but I find the lighter wood and blue seats decidedly reminiscent of ageing East German LHCS), but some poor design features. Better than a Class 195 (I think you'd expected me to say that!) and definitely better quality than one (and the PIS works) but not as good as I thought it'd be. Beats a 150, 153 or 156 into a cocked hat, though, and probably also beats a 170 due to the low floor, better seats and higher quality - which is what the intention is - but I believe the IC kit is going to have essentially the same interior, and I don't think it's quite up to that job - I actually think (Fainsa Sophias aside) I slightly prefer the 80x interior for IC. Probably beats a Pendolino though.
 
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