Abellio Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[86246]

16:00 Ipswich - Peterborough terminated at Bury St Edmunds due to a train fault. The 17:50 return will start from Bury.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Seems to have caused disruption to quite a few services on that line, to the Cambridge services as well as Peterborough Generally a lot of late running and problems on the local lines tonight.

From looking at RTT none of them have delay codes indicating train faults, they're a mixture of cancelled at train operators request for an unspecified reason, and problem at the depot.

 

[Railperf]

A 755/4 and 755/3 were working Norwich Gt Yarmouth services - giving me the opportunity to record some early performance.
The difference in power not really noticeable due to the low 60mph speed limits on that route.
755/3s are plated at 135 tons with 2 Deutz V8 Diesel engines rated at 960kW -1287hp - for the pair. So power to weight ratio of 9.5 hp/t.

755/4s plated weight is 163.4 tons with 4 Deutz V8 Diesel engines rated at 1920kW - 2,574hp. So a power to weight ratio of 15.75hp/t.

Average acceleration for a 755/4 in diesel mode is 46 to 50 seconds whereas the 755/3s are averaging 0 to 60mph in around 70 seconds.

Both trains reaching 0 to 30mph in around the same time from rest - but that is where the acceleration rate starts to fall for the 755/3.
More data required to come to some conclusions - but from rest to 3/4 mile - the 755/4 was only a few seconds ahead of the 755/3 with both trains limited to 60mph maximum speed.
Suggestions that a 755/3 is as slow to accelerate as a Class 170 is as yet unfounded. My last Class 170 took 1.1 miles and 108 seconds to reach 60mph on a favourable gradient. The 755/3 reached 60mph in less than 3/4 mile, and took only 93s to reach 1.1 miles - 15 sec quicker than a 170!

Maybe from 60mph to 100mph on diesel is where the 755/3s are not so good. Does anyone know conclusively whether a 755/3 in diesel will actually do 100mph?

I guess we have to ride one in diesel mode only between Stowmarket and Ipswich to find out.

 

[86246]

327 gets a run out on the 08:03 to Peterborough this morning.

 

[F Great Eastern]

More seemingly weird delay attribution this morning on the 08:03 755 from Ipswich to Peterborough.

It left Ipswich on time but leaving Stowmarket 10 minutes late was apparently due to the train being late from the depot.

This reasoning seems to be being used for a number of trains this morning across the network.

 

[superjohn]

I finally got the chance to inspect a 755 while visiting Ipswich yesterday. I’ve been meaning to come up and ride them on an Anglia plus for a while but the hopeless service has put me off for now.

I didn’t actually travel anywhere but 755332 seemed very nice inside, certainly a step up from the old stock. One thing that did strike me was the lack of doors. There were certain areas where it seemed a long way to a door in either direction. They may take a long time to empty out, especially on football days.

Other observations:
- The unit was sat at the far (uncovered) end of platform one, as per the class 755 stopping board part way down. Presumably this is because the overhead line doesn’t cover the full length of the platform although the unit was on diesel anyway. I wonder if the overhead will get extended, it doesn’t look like a huge job.
- On the screens they are being advertised as 4 or 5 cars. It seems they are counting the engine sections, cheeky!

 

[F Great Eastern]

On the screens they are being advertised as 4 or 5 cars. It seems they are counting the engine sections, cheeky!

That perfectly sums up Greater Anglia right now.

The amount of spin, style over substance, and the constant incessant PR drive coming out of them is pathetic, I can only imagine how widespread the crtiticism would be if Northern tried something like this.

They really need to get back to the basics of putting passengers first and realise that should be their number one priority not bigging up their image. About time the bubble they are in was burst or if not, the DfT bursts it for them.

 

[Grumbler]

I finally got the chance to inspect a 755 while visiting Ipswich yesterday. I’ve been meaning to come up and ride them on an Anglia plus for a while but the hopeless service has put me off for now.

I didn’t actually travel anywhere but 755332 seemed very nice inside, certainly a step up from the old stock. One thing that did strike me was the lack of doors. There were certain areas where it seemed a long way to a door in either direction. They may take a long time to empty out, especially on football days.

Other observations:
- The unit was sat at the far (uncovered) end of platform one, as per the class 755 stopping board part way down. Presumably this is because the overhead line doesn’t cover the full length of the platform although the unit was on diesel anyway. I wonder if the overhead will get extended, it doesn’t look like a huge job.
- On the screens they are being advertised as 4 or 5 cars. It seems they are counting the engine sections, cheeky!

As a matter of interest, what is the space in the 755/3 power modules freed up by having fewer engines than the 755/4s used for?

 

[86246]

More seemingly weird delay attribution this morning on the 08:03 755 from Ipswich to Peterborough.

It left Ipswich on time but leaving Stowmarket 10 minutes late was apparently due to the train being late from the depot.

This reasoning seems to be being used for a number of trains this morning across the network.

That often gets delayed due to the 08:10 Stowmarket - London occupying the platform.

Probably a sequence of trains delayed by the 07:05 from Norwich finally departing at 07:30 and Stowmarket at 08:02. It terminated at Colchester.

 

[Abbo]

That often gets delayed due to the 08:10 Stowmarket - London occupying the platform.

Probably a sequence of trains delayed by the 07:05 from Norwich finally departing at 07:30 and Stowmarket at 08:02. It terminated at Colchester.

So the 0705 NRW - LST was 25 late start' perhaps THAT was the train that was late off the depot.

Bittern line suffering cancellations again today so yesterday's full service was a one day wonder.

I wonder what the management structure of Greater Anglia is. The MD appears to have a purely commercial background and spokespersons wheeled out to defend the organisation seem to come from the PR school ; is there a Chief Operating officer and if not should there be ?

 

[samuelmorris]

As a matter of interest, what is the space in the 755/3 power modules freed up by having fewer engines than the 755/4s used for?

As far as I know, nothing other than having the ability to add engines if the unit is later lengthened.

On the screens they are being advertised as 4 or 5 cars. It seems they are counting the engine sections, cheeky!

Now there's no technical reason for that is there? Naughty naughty I suppose technically you could stand in there!

 

[dk1]

As a matter of interest, what is the space in the 755/3 power modules freed up by having fewer engines than the 755/4s used for?

I think somebody told me they are weighted to compensate.

 

[Railperf]

I think somebody told me they are weighted to compensate.

that would explain why the 2-engine power pack is more or less the same weight as the one with 4 engines

 

[ZL exile]

Just had my first journey on one of these pieces of junk. Can’t see much good about them. Toilets have the usual pond on the floor in front of the washbasin (or your clothing if you dont stand back (perhaps they need a yellow line on the floor, like a platform!), hand drier that’s useless. Some seats have next to no view, then we have the seats on platforms, surely these are a hazard for people getting out of the seats and forgetting they are there? THen we have heating ducts and seat brackets in the way and even in the priority sets.
Compared to the 800 I much prefer the Hitachi product.
Then the journey, stopped en route for what crew think was toilet alarm activated, took 2 attempts, first ground to a halt as soon as restarted. Upon arrival at Stanstead, kept prisoner for over 5 minutes as doors would not release...

755413 on 1K67 09:27 Norwich - Stanstead

 

[dk1]

Just had my first journey on one of these pieces of junk. Can’t see much good about them. Toilets have the usual pond on the floor in front of the washbasin (or your clothing if you dont stand back (perhaps they need a yellow line on the floor, like a platform!), hand drier that’s useless. Some seats have next to no view, then we have the seats on platforms, surely these are a hazard for people getting out of the seats and forgetting they are there? THen we have heating ducts and seat brackets in the way and even in the priority sets.
Compared to the 800 I much prefer the Hitachi product.
Then the journey, stopped en route for what crew think was toilet alarm activated, took 2 attempts, first ground to a halt as soon as restarted. Upon arrival at Stanstead, kept prisoner for over 5 minutes as doors would not release...

755413 on 1K67 09:27 Norwich - Stanstead

All sounds very positive. Where there any negative points?

 

[trebor79]

Now there's no technical reason for that is there? Naughty naughty I suppose technically you could stand in there!

The noise wouldn't be very pleasant, also there are stickers on the doors saying "Through access only", so I don't think you are meant to stand in there.

 

[trebor79]

Just had my first journey on one of these pieces of junk. Can’t see much good about them. Toilets have the usual pond on the floor in front of the washbasin (or your clothing if you dont stand back (perhaps they need a yellow line on the floor, like a platform!), hand drier that’s useless. Some seats have next to no view, then we have the seats on platforms, surely these are a hazard for people getting out of the seats and forgetting they are there? THen we have heating ducts and seat brackets in the way and even in the priority sets.
Compared to the 800 I much prefer the Hitachi product.
Then the journey, stopped en route for what crew think was toilet alarm activated, took 2 attempts, first ground to a halt as soon as restarted. Upon arrival at Stanstead, kept prisoner for over 5 minutes as doors would not release...

755413 on 1K67 09:27 Norwich - Stanstead

The only thing wrong with the toilets is that it's almost impossible to wash your hands properly as the sensor that turn the tap on is positioned so that it only activates if your hands aren't under the actual spout. It switches off immediately that you move your hands. After about 6 attempts to rinse the soap off your hands there's a loud clunk from behind the mirror and the tap won't activate after that. Just needs a few seconds delay before it turns the tap off and all would be well.
Also the disabled mega bog door takes ages to shut, so you stand there like a lemon with people gawping at you as it slowly slowly closes.

 

[dk1]

The only thing wrong with the toilets is that it's almost impossible to wash your hands properly as the sensor that turn the tap on is positioned so that it only activates if your hands aren't under the actual spout. It switches off immediately that you move your hands. After about 6 attempts to rinse the soap off your hands there's a loud clunk from behind the mirror and the tap won't activate after that. Just needs a few seconds delay before it turns the tap off and all would be well.
Also the disabled mega bog door takes ages to shut, so you stand there like a lemon with people gawping at you as it slowly slowly closes.

Using these toilets all the time, once you get used to them they are pretty good and everything works well. You just have to get used to them. Totally agree about the disabled WC door. I have finished peeing before its finally closed, still better than popping in the space saver loo round the corner.

 

[ZL exile]

The space saver one, had already decided it had had enough for the day on 413, it had done its work by 1045!

 

[trebor79]

Using these toilets all the time, once you get used to them they are pretty good and everything works well. You just have to get used to them. Totally agree about the disabled WC door. I have finished peeing before its finally closed, still better than popping in the space saver loo round the corner.

Some sinks seem less afflicted than others. Generally the sinks in the mega bog seem to work a bit better for me. Not sure why that should be but there you go.
Just needs a delay before the tap turns off and they'd be perfect.

 

[RailWonderer]

- On the screens they are being advertised as 4 or 5 cars. It seems they are counting the engine sections, cheeky!

If some people can stand in the power car corridor, it is a coach!
To be serious, I've seen 5 and 11 coaches listed on those new boards which are clearly wrong.

But having had my first 755 journey, I cannot wait until the FLIRTs are on the GEML. Passengers are getting used to them and turning into snobs when a 156 or nothing turns up. The quality is such a step up from anything else. The leather tops of the seats, the false wood, the lighting and the screens set such a standard. The seats are more comfortable than any ironing board. The ride quality is fine but the south GEML is very poor with shaky track so it will be interesting to see how they handle the bad track there.

 

[86246]

If some people can stand in the power car corridor, it is a coach!
To be serious, I've seen 5 and 11 coaches listed on those new boards which are clearly wrong.

Before Christmas there were a couple of occasions when the hauled sets were displayed as ten coaches. They would only get that if they count the 90 and the DVT as coaches.

This morning 755421 was on the first Ipswich - Cambridge return trip. Apparently the first time a 755 was on that. It was certainly an improvement on the previously booked 153.

 

[Railperf]

755 327 on the 12.01 Ipswich to Peterboro. Noted 156402 going the opposite way.

 

[PG]

Some sinks seem less afflicted than others. Generally the sinks in the mega bog seem to work a bit better for me. Not sure why that should be but there you go.
Just needs a delay before the tap turns off and they'd be perfect.

Mega bog... makes it sound like the one to use when you really have to go

The noise wouldn't be very pleasant, also there are stickers on the doors saying "Through access only", so I don't think you are meant to stand in there.

How long before some wag removes the first two letters!?

 

[Railperf]

755 327 on the 12.01 Ipswich to Peterboro. Noted 156402 going the opposite way.

Guard making announcements as to where to exit the train at Manea and Whittlesea.
Again..why is this not a 90mph route? It is straight enough in most places?

 

[physics34]

My only two issues with them are the lack of lumber support on the seats which generally are quite good overall although a bit hard, and the door open chimes are too loud. Both regular complaints from me!

 

[eastdyke]

Again..why is this not a 90mph route? It is straight enough in most places?

The formation having been laid down across drained fen for almost the entire section has a fair bit to do with it ...

 

[trebor79]

My only two issues with them are the lack of lumber support on the seats which generally are quite good overall although a bit hard, and the door open chimes are too loud. Both regular complaints from me!

The door chimes are indeed ridiculously loud, I usually let someone else open the doors and stand well away because I find it painful to stand underneath the sounder waiting for the door to open. I'm sure in an industrial environment you'd have to wear hearing protection.

 

[ashkeba]

Also the disabled mega bog door takes ages to shut, so you stand there like a lemon with people gawping at you as it slowly slowly closes.

Wave at them! The accessible loos on the electro stars and turbo stars are also very slow, plus they randomly stick for a second at points if the door needs repair... then you get people failing to lock...

 

[dk1]

Guard making announcements as to where to exit the train at Manea and Whittlesea.
Again..why is this not a 90mph route? It is straight enough in most places?

It's due to the nature of the Fens and the constant upkeep it needs due the fact much of it floats in a way. Same Ely-Lakenheath which is 75mph for units but 45mph for anything else.