grumblingalong
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Because a lot of rail "enthusiasts" actually seem to be completely lacking in enthusiasm! Especially when a nice new train is bought in, to keep the railway competitive!
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Abellio Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)
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Because a lot of rail "enthusiasts" actually seem to be completely lacking in enthusiasm! Especially when a nice new train is bought in, to keep the railway competitive!
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dk1
Veteran Member
Right, now I have just popped my cherry by actually travelling on a Stadler in this country. Ironic as I'm supposed to be driving them I am still no nearer stepping into any cab other than the simulator 
Impressed is an understatement. They are most certainly the best of all the new trains introduced in the UK In the last couple of years. The only of these I have yet to sample are the 385s North of the border & MK5 Slep vehicles. Acceleration (in diesel mode) was excellent as was the ride & seat comfort. Can't wait to thrash a 3-car in pan-up
PIS was very informative too. If I had to make a slight criticism it would be the brightness of interior lighting & the loudness of the door release alarm but these are industry standards & re quirements for PRM. They are almost too good for us East Anglians as we are not normally top of the tree when it comes to new trains. I have to keep pinching myself.
Impressed is an understatement. They are most certainly the best of all the new trains introduced in the UK In the last couple of years. The only of these I have yet to sample are the 385s North of the border & MK5 Slep vehicles. Acceleration (in diesel mode) was excellent as was the ride & seat comfort. Can't wait to thrash a 3-car in pan-up
PIS was very informative too. If I had to make a slight criticism it would be the brightness of interior lighting & the loudness of the door release alarm but these are industry standards & re quirements for PRM. They are almost too good for us East Anglians as we are not normally top of the tree when it comes to new trains. I have to keep pinching myself.
EE Andy b1
Established Member
I wish Northern would have gone for some of these Stadler Flirts. They do look a nice unit.
The Bi-mode problem would have been solved instead of waiting for 30+ year old Class 769 Flex conversion to actually start to work.
I'm sure the cab environment will be pretty good as well.
It's about time you all shared in the New train excitement.
Please Greater Anglia, loan Northern a couple of your stored sets to trial.
The Bi-mode problem would have been solved instead of waiting for 30+ year old Class 769 Flex conversion to actually start to work.
I'm sure the cab environment will be pretty good as well.
It's about time you all shared in the New train excitement.
Please Greater Anglia, loan Northern a couple of your stored sets to trial.
samuelmorris
Established Member
Northern still have a lot of 150/153/155/156 to replace, which should all already be gone. If the investment was there, that genuinely does seem to be the best tool for the job, if the fuel capacity weight restriction doesn't cause an issue in those areas.I wish Northern would have gone for some of these Stadler Flirts. They do look a nice unit.
The Bi-mode problem would have been solved instead of waiting for 30+ year old Class 769 Flex conversion to actually start to work.
I'm sure the cab environment will be pretty good as well.
It's about time you all shared in the New train excitement.
Please Greater Anglia, loan Northern a couple of your stored sets to trial.
Jamesrob637
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Aug 2016
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- 5,234
I wish Northern would have gone for some of these Stadler Flirts. They do look a nice unit.
The Bi-mode problem would have been solved instead of waiting for 30+ year old Class 769 Flex conversion to actually start to work.
I'm sure the cab environment will be pretty good as well.
It's about time you all shared in the New train excitement.
Please Greater Anglia, loan Northern a couple of your stored sets to trial.
Northern is getting a Stadler product... sort of. Merseyrail will witness them in the next year or so
Tim Regester
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- 3 Jul 2019
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It was suggested to me this morning by an unnamed GA staff member, that the 755/3s will be severely delayed introduction on Sudbury-Marks Tey line due to a bridge on the line being unable to take the axle weight of the new trains.
What is the axle weight of a 755/3 vs the 15x class DMUs that normally operate the line? Is this a real cause for delay?
What is the axle weight of a 755/3 vs the 15x class DMUs that normally operate the line? Is this a real cause for delay?
I don't know the exact numbers but as a general rule articulated bogies have a higher axle weight than a train with traditional ones.
If its true I don't know but if it is its a perfectly reasonable reason to delay them, unless you view possible bridge collapse as an acceptable risk...
Shunter_69
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I’ve heard they were going to get around that by running them with low fuel and swap them over around lunchtime.
The railway does love to run on rumours so both or neither could be true.
The railway does love to run on rumours so both or neither could be true.
delticdave
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A 755/3 with be lighter than the 755/4, the power car only has two gen-sets, whereas the /4's have 4 of them.
If the high axle-load problem is related to the motor bogies, then there's no obvious answer, they're identical over the whole UK Flirt fleet.
Not always true elsewhere, there are 3-car electric Flirts with only 3 motors (1A-2-Bo).
306024
Established Member
So long as that bridge doesn't turn out to be the rather impressive Chappel viaduct.
samuelmorris
Established Member
The rumour about the bridge seems plausible - something that you would have expected to be considered by now, but then given some of the other issues that have been encountered, clearly not a lot of thinking went on when ordering the new fleet. The low fuel argument can't make much difference to the axle weight I wouldn't have thought, given the fuel tanks are already reduced in size to save weight.
I'd be very surprised if the weight issue is the motor bogies, they aren't articulated. I'd expect 156 bogies to be heavier. It's bound to be the power unit, if it's an issue at all...
Shunter_69
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I believe it is.
grumblingalong
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- 10 Mar 2015
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Small relatively self contained branch, low speeds, low axle load needed.......anyone got a number for Vivarail?
samuelmorris
Established Member
You don't need to place an order with Vivarail to get the replacement bus, they're available now
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
You don't need to place an order with Vivarail to get the replacement bus, they're available now
"This train is formed of one coach" - on rubber tyres outside the station...
That would have been a sensible idea... Maybe Northern could have got them to do the 769s as well!
We had heard a similar rumour a few months ago that the flirts were too heavy for the Sudbury Line, half fuel seems a risky option !
Remember it was said somewhere on here, that it was not the Ops side that ordered them !
Steam and diesel loco-hauled trains have operated on this branch in the past. Surely the axle weight on these has got to be a lot greater than a Stadler? Or has the bridge (viaduct?) concerned become that much weaker since early this century?
If it is a problem I hope something is being done to fix it soon. It’s really taking the pee if the rest of GA is getting brand new Aventras and FLIRTs while the Sudbury line gets the old rubbish again, as usual.
If it is a problem I hope something is being done to fix it soon. It’s really taking the pee if the rest of GA is getting brand new Aventras and FLIRTs while the Sudbury line gets the old rubbish again, as usual.
Tim Regester
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- 3 Jul 2019
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Not the bridge mentioned at all. A much smaller bridge between Sudbury and Bures.
Tim Regester
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Who knows, it could be the foundations have weakened or the Iron/Steel has rusted. You never know maintenance standards may have fallen in the last 40 years
samuelmorris
Established Member
Indeed it wasn't, and to be fair it's not just the operations people that have been working hard, some layer of management has been really trying to make the new fleet at Anglia the best it can be within the confines of the franchise agreement and the bid. With the seat changes, to the general design, look and feel of the 755s, they really are putting an effort in. Still doesn't excuse the bid department making a complete mess of it.
Who knows, it could be the foundations have weakened or the Iron/Steel has rusted. You never know maintenance standards may have fallen in the last 40 years
It is a bridge near Great Cornard. The issue is (allegedly) the timbers that support the line......they need strengthening and/or replacing and conversations are going on (apparently) with NR.
I raised this recently with the MD at a rail users meeting and he assured me that solutions will be found and the Stadlers will run on the branch in 2020
Class 170101
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They are already half fuel compared to 15x and 170s?
Having until my health robbed me of my career , worked in public sector IT( namley GP Surgeries) on the IT replacements, this level of incompetence in not checking important details, in the case of GP surgeries, a highly life saving kit( ECG machine) was never scoped or checked , to see it would work with the new computers , which it didnt. The fact I had to ' strong arm the supplier '- the only supplier , sorted that one .
But this with the Bridge and the weight of a train , I'm not totally familiar with exactly what trains are what in the Stadler fleet , Eg the units that appear to have only four cars and some ' APT' Style power unit , first we are told that they are lighter and better on fuel . But that heavy traction unit must weigh a fIr amount , is this to do with running them in multiple. What I cannot understand , is if they need to do that why not for example order 8 car 6 car units for example .
They must have known the limits of that line , and one thing that won't change is the design of the train just for one line surely ?.
So also unlikely is altering the new train to suit. So in that event they might have to keep say a class 170 and make up a four or five car unit by adding ' centre cars ' to provide what this new train would give, would that be lighter ?.
Sorry for all the questions I'm not an expert but am interested in the subject.
But this with the Bridge and the weight of a train , I'm not totally familiar with exactly what trains are what in the Stadler fleet , Eg the units that appear to have only four cars and some ' APT' Style power unit , first we are told that they are lighter and better on fuel . But that heavy traction unit must weigh a fIr amount , is this to do with running them in multiple. What I cannot understand , is if they need to do that why not for example order 8 car 6 car units for example .
They must have known the limits of that line , and one thing that won't change is the design of the train just for one line surely ?.
So also unlikely is altering the new train to suit. So in that event they might have to keep say a class 170 and make up a four or five car unit by adding ' centre cars ' to provide what this new train would give, would that be lighter ?.
Sorry for all the questions I'm not an expert but am interested in the subject.
I've just come out of the Channel tunnel, and three more 755s waiting in a siding. I didn't see whether they were 3 or 4 car ones.
Crown Point currently full to bursting, looking at alternate locations
dk1
Veteran Member
Victoria Sidings are still some way off being ready although they've made a good start. Think this is for four 745s though. Vauxhall has a fair bit of capacity although I think it's not possible to use until March.