Greater Anglia Rolling Stock Updates

dk1 · 24 Feb 2018

Shunter_69 said:
I’m guessing the services you used and didn’t see anyone had stand in guards on them as they are just there to control the doors.

*** This is for information only and not to start another DOO debate ***

Yes these would most probably be workings covered by PUGs as no revenue duties are carried out. There are many such workings daily at the moment.

RailUK Forums

dp21 · 24 Feb 2018

I believe due to the overtime ban for conductors, yup.

Class 170101 · 25 Feb 2018

jamesontheroad said:
Updates on expected in-service dates of the new fleets, via Richard Clinnick at RAIL (source)

March 2019: 5-car Class 720 EMU enter service on GEML.

April 2019: 10-car Class 720 EMU enter service on WAML.

"Late April" 2019: Stadler EMU enter service on GEML.

May 2019: Stadler DEMU enter service, May 2019.

By March 2020: all new fleets accepted.

By end of August 2020: existing fleets withdrawn from service.

That's quite ambitious, IMHO, not just the timescale, but also the associated difficulty of introducing so many new trains in a very short space of time.

I agree with those before me that the timecales look heroic to say the least although one would like to think some of the faults with the Class 720 EMUs will have been ironed out by the Class 345s and Class 710 EMUs. I'd be interested in where NR got those figures above for service entry and as such I wouldn't treat it as gospel simply as they won't be introducing stock Bombardier and GA are.

F Great Eastern · 26 Feb 2018

I just have got on a train to Norwich and beside me in platform 4 at Ipswich is a three car 170 to Felixstowe and a 153 that has just arrived from Felixstowe and a two car 170 to Cambridge?

Can't be common that a three car goes to Felixstowe and seems a waste of capacity when there are so many short forms.

dk1 · 26 Feb 2018

F Great Eastern said:
I just have got on a train to Norwich and beside me in platform 4 at Ipswich is a three car 170 to Felixstowe and a 153 that has just arrived from Felixstowe and a two car 170 to Cambridge?

Can't be common that a three car goes to Felixstowe and seems a waste of capacity when there are so many short forms.

That one goes ECS to Crown Point after working the 08:25 Felixstowe. Probably requires fuel/exam.

F Great Eastern · 26 Feb 2018

dk1 said:
That one goes ECS to Crown Point after working the 08:25 Felixstowe. Probably requires fuel/exam.

Must have been something up with it, otherwise makes no sense why they did not swap it onto something that needs the capacity - rare treat for those who were on it I bet though on the Felixstowe run!

Incidentally is there a reason short forms are no longer being reported on JourneyCheck since last night, since they are still occurring just as much.

Also on the earlier subject of PUG, is it usual for there to be someone selling / checking tickets, someone else doing the doors and the driver?

dk1 · 26 Feb 2018

F Great Eastern said:
Must have been something up with it, otherwise makes no sense why they did not swap it onto something that needs the capacity - rare treat for those who were on it I bet though on the Felixstowe run!

Incidentally is there a reason short forms are no longer being reported on JourneyCheck since last night, since they are still occurring just as much.

Also on the earlier subject of PUG, is it usual for there to be someone selling / checking tickets, someone else doing the doors and the driver?

Many trains have PUGs being trained/refreshed on doors. There will still be a guard on these trains that concentrate solely on seeking tickets (they are on commission after all) but refuse to assist in any other way.

Short forms are still coming up on the internal Tyrell check so assumed it was all linked. Perhaps something missed as they must be very busy with other weather related issues at the moment.

The 170v153 thing would be just down to operational convenience.

F Great Eastern · 26 Feb 2018

dk1 said:
Many trains have PUGs being trained/refreshed on doors. There will still be a guard on these trains that concentrate solely on seeking tickets (they are on commission after all) but refuse to assist in any other way.

In the last week I've seen one staff member selling tickets but not checking any or doing anything else and earlier on today out of Ipswich there was a guy who was doing the doors and announcements and female staff member selling and checking tickets.

Short forms are still coming up on the internal Tyrell check so assumed it was all linked. Perhaps something missed as they must be very busy with other weather related issues at the moment.

The Harwich to Cambridge train that was due to leave Ipswich at 8.20 this morning was a two car unrefurbished set and only ran Ipswich - Cambridge due to a shortage of units and all the services on that diagram were short formed as well but none showed on JourneyCheck as short formed.

Bletchleyite · 26 Feb 2018

What's a PUG, sorry?

dk1 · 26 Feb 2018

Bletchleyite said:
What's a PUG, sorry?

It's a stand in guard. Only does doors & safety critical work but no revenue duties. Covering all the holes due to the ongoing industrial relation problems at this TOC.

Bletchleyite · 26 Feb 2018

dk1 said:
It's a stand in guard. Only does doors & safety critical work but no revenue duties. Covering all the holes due to the ongoing industrial relation problems at this TOC.

Ah, cheers. What does it stand for?

dk1 · 26 Feb 2018

F Great Eastern said:
In the last week I've seen one staff member selling tickets but not checking any or doing anything else and earlier on today out of Ipswich there was a guy who was doing the doors and announcements and female staff member selling and checking tickets.

The Harwich to Cambridge train that was due to leave Ipswich at 8.20 this morning was a two car unrefurbished set and only ran Ipswich - Cambridge due to a shortage of units and all the services on that diagram were short formed as well but none showed on JourneyCheck as short formed.

Without being on the train I have no idea. PUGs do no revenue if they are alone working the train. If they are training with another manager they do doors & the booked conductor does revenue duties only.

The 08:20 as you may know is the get out of jail train if short of units. The 05:25 Lowestoft-Harwich PQ terminated Ipswich & forms the 06:54 Ipswich-Cambridge. Dump the Harwich bit & you can restart that service at 08:20 & thus keep the majority happy.

dk1 · 26 Feb 2018

Bletchleyite said:
Ah, cheers. What does it stand for?

I never remember. I'm sure someone pays more attention on here than I do lol

Domh245 · 26 Feb 2018

Bletchleyite said:
Ah, cheers. What does it stand for?

Person used/utilised (as) guard I think

Bletchleyite · 26 Feb 2018

Domh245 said:
Person used/utilised (as) guard I think

Cheers.

Class 170101 · 17 Mar 2018

Well I wonder where the Rolling Stock is going now

Brantham Depot on Hold

Greater Anglia forced to put multimillion-pound depot plans on hold

Click to expand...

Greater Anglia has been forced to look at “alternative options” for its planned depot in Brantham, Suffolk, due to problems with access and the frequency of trains on a nearby level crossing.

The multimillion-pound facility was set to be built close to Manningtree station, but regulations concerning the volume of traffic that can travel through the area, along with access issues to the site have contributed to serious complications.

Work had already begun at the site, with demolition and initial groundwork underway at the former chemical plant, but this has now ground to a halt as Greater Anglia looks to resolve its issues.

A spokesperson for the operator explained: “There are a number of issues to be resolved in order to progress with our proposed new depot at Brantham. These include preparation of the site, train access to the site and the fact that we have yet to agree commercial terms with the landowner involved.

“A potential further complication relates to the impact of additional train movements on the level crossing at Manningtree and we have been working with Network Rail about this.”

There are currently only a limited number of times that the level crossing is allowed to close its gates, but the increase in rail traffic caused by the depot would mean increasing that number, which is not currently permitted because of the traffic flow issues it would cause.

Greater Anglia also has to come to a deal with the landowner on commercial terms for the site and finish certain preparation works, meaning work will have to be paused while these issues are dealt with.

The operator says it will be “looking at alternative options” for the maintenance and cleaning work that is currently scheduled to take place at Brantham, in case solutions cannot be found within the three-month expected timescale.

Greater Anglia unveiled plans for the depot last February, in the hope that the facility would help improve the quality of services and provide at least 30 new jobs.

It was initially projected to include 13 outdoor tracks with a further two sections inside a 300-metre building, meant to be used for repairs and maintenance.

321446 · 17 Mar 2018

I think problems with the crossing are minor compared to the condition of the ground/water that the depot is supposed to be built in. Would save money on a trainwash I suppose.

cj_1985 · 17 Mar 2018

This may have been covered previously or in another thread... But, is there no land that could be used in Norwich near the station or existing depot?

Class 170101 · 17 Mar 2018

The units that were bound for Brantham depot won't visit Norwich en masse to stable there. The Diagrams would have to be re-written to get trains there.

Wivenswold · 17 Mar 2018

One option might be the old Cowdray Centre between Cowdray Avenue (the original Colchester By-pass) and the GEML north of Castle Park. I can't imagine the land would be cheap but it's brownfield, mostly vacant and right next to the mainline. Though there would be some gradient unless the site could be multi-level (Stores/Car park below track). Not an easy project though. Some crude measurements on Google Earth suggests you could get a 10 car Aventra on site including exit roads.

If Network Rail were being really smart, relocate the somewhat cramped and disjointed Colchester North station to East of Station Road, new 6 platform station and entrances/multi-storey car park on the Cowdray centre, Expand the existing depot on the London side.

I will wait for someone to highlight an obvious oversight on my part and then feel stupid. Waiting.....

Class 170101 · 17 Mar 2018

Didn't Morrisons want to build a supermarket on that site?

In terms of putting a station there good luck the road access to the site thats what scuppered the supermarket plans so far. The queues in rush hour leaving the site would be horrendous in the evening peak, its already bad now without adding the London commuters. Also I think the station itself would need to be multi level because the line for Clacton is already at a lower level on both sides to dive under the GEML to Norwich, so a three level station here (at least).

LAX54 · 17 Mar 2018

Dont follow this too many trains over crossing thing ! they dont have to go over the crossing to get to Ipswich, they can reverse on the North Curve or even Mistley, they are looking at Harwich voce Brantham I understand, and of course in the meantime, units will be held at Yarmouth sdgs / Victoria sdgs, and they are bringing some roads in the Point up to scratch :-0

jamesontheroad · 18 Mar 2018

cj_1985 said:
This may have been covered previously or in another thread... But, is there no land that could be used in Norwich near the station or existing depot?

The Norwich Victoria sidings have recently been cleared for cascaded stock, and there are the sidings alongside Norwich station, but neither are wired. Even if the Victoria sidings weren't going to be filled up with surplus older stock, I doubt that even together they have enough room.

dk1 · 18 Mar 2018

jamesontheroad said:
The Norwich Victoria sidings have recently been cleared for cascaded stock, and there are the sidings alongside Norwich station, but neither are wired. Even if the Victoria sidings weren't going to be filled up with surplus older stock, I doubt that even together they have enough room.

The Low Level Sidings (platform 1 side) have two wired roads. These where done a few years ago & an IC set stables there every night & often during the day during any disruption. There is a plan to wire the Victoria Sidings.

D365 · 18 Mar 2018

Class 170101 said:
I'd be interested in where NR got those figures above for service entry and as such I wouldn't treat it as gospel simply as they won't be introducing stock Bombardier and GA are.

Network Rail? I'd say they play quite an important role in introducing new rolling stock to a railway system...

Class 170101 · 18 Mar 2018

NR certainly play an important role, but they aren't the only player, so I still wouldn't treat those dates as gospel.

D365 · 18 Mar 2018

Why? It would be a bit useless if Network Rail were working off false dates.

Don't forget that rolling stock won't be allowed to run on their infrastructure unless they are satisfied that it is not electrically or mechanically incompatible.

Class 170101 · 18 Mar 2018

Correct but NR might be ready but the builder may not be. However I'll stand by previous post that I wouldn't treat those dates as gospel - for me seeing is believing.

AC47461 · 19 Mar 2018

oldsiggie said:
Dont follow this too many trains over crossing thing ! they dont have to go over the crossing to get to Ipswich, they can reverse on the North Curve or even Mistley, they are looking at Harwich voce Brantham I understand, and of course in the meantime, units will be held at Yarmouth sdgs / Victoria sdgs, and they are bringing some roads in the Point up to scratch :-0

Somebody will correct me if I'm wrong I'm sure, but I understood the only access to the Brantham site was going to be from the south end, and the signalling arrangements would mean any train entering the site would have to start from the (currently unused?) platform 4 regardless of where it came from, which means any train coming from the north would cross the level crossing twice.

MrPIC · 19 Mar 2018

Theres a rumour that the goods loop roads at Broxbourne were bought by TFL and they won't let GA use them for new stock as its all earmarked for CR2?
I also heard that some of the old sidings at Hertford East could be being brought back into use (although the brand new flats right next to the station might make this difficult!

Greater Anglia Rolling Stock Updates

Veteran Member

RailUK Forums

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Member

Member