Abellio Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[samuelmorris]

And unlike what happened with the Sleeper, we got bored complaining about the niggles quite quickly!

On one just now. Three cheers for the guard that deposited the weirdo that was harassing women at... Kennet

I'm glad you edited that, the concept of guitars evicting someone from a train was quite an image!

 

[RailWonderer]

The 755s were slightly delayed and had a few faults but calling them Basils was an exaggeration, for a type of train and manufacturer completely new to the UK market, with a less straightforward bi mode design there were inevitably going to be some problems. The MTIN figures will go through the roof in a few years time, I'm very sure. In conclusion, they are a brilliant cutting edge train that are not like anything else on railways in the UK. The seats are comfortable enough for the distances they travel, and have enough capacity, plug sockets, wi-fi, tables and armrests. I cannot fault them.

Fear not, this thread is not over.755 authorizations to run in multiples could still happen, Lowestoft - London through services and clearing south of Marks Tey as well. While they're waiting for the 720s and once 745s are in service I'm sure they'll have time to get round to doing that. Whether or not we see through services again is a big unknown. Although I propose that path take over the Braintree but that's for another thread.

 

[gingerheid]

I'm glad you edited that, the concept of guitars evicting someone from a train was quite an image!

They'd have made more of a song and dance about it than the guard did.

 

[LAX54]

The 755s were slightly delayed and had a few faults but calling them Basils was an exaggeration, for a type of train and manufacturer completely new to the UK market, with a less straightforward bi mode design there were inevitably going to be some problems. The MTIN figures will go through the roof in a few years time, I'm very sure. In conclusion, they are a brilliant cutting edge train that are not like anything else on railways in the UK. The seats are comfortable enough for the distances they travel, and have enough capacity, plug sockets, wi-fi, tables and armrests. I cannot fault them.

Fear not, this thread is not over.755 authorizations to run in multiples could still happen, Lowestoft - London through services and clearing south of Marks Tey as well. While they're waiting for the 720s and once 745s are in service I'm sure they'll have time to get round to doing that. Whether or not we see through services again is a big unknown. Although I propose that path take over the Braintree but that's for another thread.

Think Basil's was /is a justified name, with at least 7 or 8, sometimes more failures a day ! Even now it is still 3 or 4 on a daily basis, but they are getting better a each day goes by, the 745's on the other hand have been almost top notch since day 1.

 

[samuelmorris]

Think Basil's was /is a justified name, with at least 7 or 8, sometimes more failures a day ! Even now it is still 3 or 4 on a daily basis, but they are getting better a each day goes by, the 745's on the other hand have been almost top notch since day 1.

but it would be for all the other newly introduced stock too - 195s, 331s, 345s, 710s, even 717s in the early days. I don't really understand why the 755s were singled out for that nickname despite the poor initial performance.

 

[LAX54]

but it would be for all the other newly introduced stock too - 195s, 331s, 345s, 710s, even 717s in the early days. I don't really understand why the 755s were singled out for that nickname despite the poor initial performance.

we did indeed have issues, but not failure after failure after failure within a few hours ! we have had 3 tonight since 2000 !

 

[Shunter_69]

They seem to be better?

There are niggles, but they seem to be more minor.

I moved seat on a -3 this morning because the door to the engine compartment was stuck open and treating me to a terrible selection of rattles, the displays weren't working at all, the heater at my new seat was trying to cook the train, and the lights seemed to go off and on an awful lot when changing power...

... But at least it ran (an early of course).

There is a button in the cab to open all the internal doors, I use it to help speed things up as terminus stations. I’d assume the driver of your train didn’t realise they were open.

 

[dk1]

There is a button in the cab to open all the internal doors, I use it to help speed things up as terminus stations. I’d assume the driver of your train didn’t realise they were open.

I have never bothered with that but yesterday the guard buzzed me up (on a 745) to ask if I'd close the internal doors. I had to get her advice to be sure on which icon it was

 

[Shunter_69]

I have never bothered with that but yesterday the guard buzzed me up (on a 745) to ask if I'd close the internal doors. I had to get her advice to be sure on which icon it was

It’s useful on the Sudbury branch in the peak due to the short turnarounds and the short platforms.

 

[dk1]

It’s useful on the Sudbury branch in the peak due to the short turnarounds and the short platforms.

Ahh you are referring to holding the button down for external doors. My apologies, I read it as the internal ones

 

[Shunter_69]

Ahh you are referring to holding the button down for external doors. My apologies, I read it as the internal ones

nope, the internal ones as the coach that is locked out at Marks Tey and Sudbury is at opposite ends so people have to walk through getting on or off. Especially useful for people walking through the power pack.

just have to remember to close them again on departure.

 

[dk1]

nope, the internal ones as the coach that is locked out at Marks Tey and Sudbury is at opposite ends so people have to walk through getting on or off. Especially useful for people walking through the power pack.

just have to remember to close them again on departure.

Of course I see now (it takes me a while) you open the internal doors for them to walk straight through the PP.

 

[Shunter_69]

That’s it, doesn’t save a lot of time but when you only have 4 minutes turnaround every second helps and I’ve seen people waiting for them to close fully before opening them again when they’ve been waiting to go through. Understandable as passengers are less worried about punctuality once they’ve arrived at their destination.

 

[Roger B]

Think Basil's was /is a justified name, with at least 7 or 8, sometimes more failures a day ! Even now it is still 3 or 4 on a daily basis, but they are getting better a each day goes by, the 745's on the other hand have been almost top notch since day 1.

Let's not lose focus on the main gripe recorded on this thread - which wasn't the performance of the 755s themselves, because new fleets always take time to settle down. The main concern recorded again and again was about how GA were (mis)managing their introduction.

1. Unrealistic expectations about the speed at which the new trains could be introduced into service - especially from a manufacturer new to UK's railways.
2. They failed to anticipate teething troubles, and to retain some of the 'old' trains, or to have arrangements for standby / short-term hire of coaches. This resulted in an appalling service on rural routes for many weeks, seriously affecting people's ability to get to work / school / or just move around generally.
3. Releasing 'old' stock; before the new trains (and trained drivers) were available to replace them.
4. Denial that there were issues with the new trains, and obfustication to the media - sometimes stretching credibility to breaking point.

Whilst it's great that the 755s are now working fairly well (apart from the occasional hiccup), the above are serious concerns, and GA management should be held to account, not least to try to minimise recurrence as the other fleets are replaced. I reckon they got off pretty lightly with the 755s - but if the same happens with the 720s, the reaction is likely to be on a different scale.

 

[delt1c]

Think Basil's was /is a justified name, with at least 7 or 8, sometimes more failures a day ! Even now it is still 3 or 4 on a daily basis, but they are getting better a each day goes by, the 745's on the other hand have been almost top notch since day 1.

All new stock gets names, 47,s were called Duff,s, 50,s were known as 50/50 ( long before hoovers). These are names taged when introduced and often stick, so we live and accept it.

 

[samuelmorris]

Whilst it's great that the 755s are now working fairly well (apart from the occasional hiccup), the above are serious concerns, and GA management should be held to account, not least to try to minimise recurrence as the other fleets are replaced. I reckon they got off pretty lightly with the 755s - but if the same happens with the 720s, the reaction is likely to be on a different scale.

At the risk of sounding overly pessimistic, it will happen, I would put money on that. It will be interesting to see how the situation differs with how the legacy stock withdrawal is handled.

 

[ashkeba]

but it would be for all the other newly introduced stock too - 195s, 331s, 345s, 710s, even 717s in the early days. I don't really understand why the 755s were singled out for that nickname despite the poor initial performance.

It's because they're foreign trains replacing "British" built ones (some of which were built by the well known "British" firm Bombardier of Montreal), isn't it?

 

[F Great Eastern]

It's because they're foreign trains replacing "British" built ones (some of which were built by the well known "British" firm Bombardier of Montreal), isn't it?

That's a theory to file in the conspiracy theories cabinet I think.

 

[Mordac]

At the risk of sounding overly pessimistic, it will happen, I would put money on that. It will be interesting to see how the situation differs with how the legacy stock withdrawal is handled.

No one's waiting on most of the EMU stick (just the 360s I think) so there's a bit more scope to hang on to that.

 

[samuelmorris]

It's because they're foreign trains replacing "British" built ones (some of which were built by the well known "British" firm Bombardier of Montreal), isn't it?

Not even Bombardier in the early days, the original 170s would have been ADtranz, so ABB Daimler-Benz, neither of which are British!

No one's waiting on most of the EMU stick (just the 360s I think) so there's a bit more scope to hang on to that.

Correct (thus far) but the leases are still due to expire, hence why it'll be interesting to see what difference it makes.

 

[ashkeba]

That's a theory to file in the conspiracy theories cabinet I think.

Because no-one in this region still makes rude comments about foreigners to our faces?

 

[Wuffle]

I see a 755 failed at Beccles this morning

 

[Wivenswold]

Well, I won't be calling them "Basils". In the lexicon of rolling stock introductions, theirs was relatively successful. Compare and contrast with the Aventras (which were due to enter service prior to the Stadlers).

 

[Class 170101]

Fear not, this thread is not over.755 authorizations to run in multiples could still happen, Lowestoft - London through services and clearing south of Marks Tey as well.

Apparently some testing in multiple today.

 

[dk1]

Apparently some testing in multiple today.

Yes, been ongoing for over a week now.

 

[Icky Qualms]

16:20 Ipswich to Cambridge cancelled today as 409 failed in platform 1

 

[Railperf]

I had unit 409 yesterday - it seemed to be okay.
Unit 421 was running on only three engines - but had no issue making up time despite a 5 late departure from Norwich due to a door fault.
I wonder if it was an engine fault or new running policy to save fuel /maintenance.

 

[trebor79]

I had unit 409 yesterday - it seemed to be okay.
Unit 421 was running on only three engines - but had no issue making up time despite a 5 late departure from Norwich due to a door fault.
I wonder if it was an engine fault or new running policy to save fuel /maintenance.

Have noticed that they seem to be being driven a lot more conservatively than in the early days. A pity, always good fun when they rocket out of the platform!

 

[Railperf]

In diesel mode - certainly appears that way.
Maybe less conservatively on electric.

 

[dk1]

I don't think anybody has changed the way they are driven. If on greens we wind them up and let them go. Purely engine faults resulting in some 4-cars running with 3 engines. No economy measure.