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Greater Anglia Bombardier Aventras (Class 720): Technical discussion and introduction

Russel

Russel

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Wivenswold said:
It really is time for a twice hourly London to Clacton service with a fast and one that stops at Marks Tey and also all stations between Wivenhoe and Thorpe. But that discussion is for another day in another thread.
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I visit Clacton a few times a year and these days I get the fast Norwich service to Colchester then get the 74 bus from there, for any journey over an hour, the 720s are dreadful.
 
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Peter Mugridge

Peter Mugridge

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720 141 + 720 143 are already doing the mileage runs just two days after delivery; I saw the pair at Milton Keynes this evening at around 16.30.

Must be a good sign that they aren't hanging around with them?
 
Wivenswold

Wivenswold

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Russel said:
I visit Clacton a few times a year and these days I get the fast Norwich service to Colchester then get the 74 bus from there, for any journey over an hour, the 720s are dreadful.
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The only things I don't like about the 720s is the 3+2 configuration, the seats are fine even for someone like me who gets pain from the smallest of potholes in the road they just need to be wider. My other issue is their omnipresence. We've always had two different types of EMU (sometimes 3 or 4) on the Clacton branch which made things a little more interesting. Now it's just 720s it's less fun.

I also often change at Colchester and take advantage of the superior 745s. First Bus's Colchester fleet has improved recently with the gradual fleet replacement and introduction of ADL E200s and E400s, so I can see why the 74 would be more appealing. It probably drops you off closer to home too.
 
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robert west

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Peter Mugridge said:
720 141 + 720 143 are already doing the mileage runs just two days after delivery; I saw the pair at Milton Keynes this evening at around 16.30.

Must be a good sign that they aren't hanging around with them?
Click to expand...
there is a 5q22 1537 willesden depot to ilford depot at stratford now
is this 720141 and 143 being delivered to ilford
 
Russel

Russel

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Wivenswold said:
I also often change at Colchester and take advantage of the superior 745s. First Bus's Colchester fleet has improved recently with the gradual fleet replacement and introduction of ADL E200s and E400s, so I can see why the 74 would be more appealing. It probably drops you off closer to home too.
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It's between Clacton and St Osyth that I travel to, so yeah, catching the 74 from Colchester is probably only 10- 15 minutes slower than getting the train direct to Clacton and getting the bus from there... I'm never in a hurry and the nicer journey is worth the extra 10-15 minutes!

The 720's are okay, but just okay... the 3+2 and lack of arm rests really spoils them for me, the 730's on the Cross City are 2+2 and it makes a huge difference to an otherwise almost identical train!
 
3973EXL

3973EXL

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0D20 5Q68 "Q" as required

Realtime Trains | 0D20 0946 Leicester L.I.P. to Derby Litchurch Lane | 28/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 0D20 0946 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Derby Litchurch Lane on 28/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q68 1245 Derby Litchurch Lane to Willesden T.M.D | 28/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q68 1245 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Willesden T.M.D on 28/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 0O47 1815 Willesden T.M.D to Eastleigh East Yard | 28/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 0O47 1815 departure from Willesden T.M.D to Eastleigh East Yard on 28/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
 
Peter Mugridge

Peter Mugridge

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720144 said:
Brilliant. Hoping they will go into service tomorrow on the WAML.
Click to expand...
Won't they do a bit more mileage accumulation first? I seem to recall previous deliveries did a bit on their home routes after their own initial mileage on the WCML?
 
720144

720144

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3973EXL said:
0D20 5Q68 "Q" as required

Realtime Trains | 0D20 0946 Leicester L.I.P. to Derby Litchurch Lane | 28/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 0D20 0946 departure from Leicester L.I.P. to Derby Litchurch Lane on 28/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q68 1245 Derby Litchurch Lane to Willesden T.M.D | 28/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q68 1245 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Willesden T.M.D on 28/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 0O47 1815 Willesden T.M.D to Eastleigh East Yard | 28/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 0O47 1815 departure from Willesden T.M.D to Eastleigh East Yard on 28/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Click to expand...
If I’m correct that will be 720516?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Peter Mugridge said:
Won't they do a bit more mileage accumulation first? I seem to recall previous deliveries did a bit on their home routes after their own initial mileage on the WCML?
Click to expand...
Engineering works this weekend so won’t be able to move out of ilford until Monday for additional mileage testing.
 
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4

47584Suffolk

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720144 said:
Brilliant. Hoping they will go into service tomorrow on the WAML.
Click to expand...
They have to complete Fault Free Running trials first (was 1,000 miles but not sure if that is still the case) over the Southend Victoria branch before GA/Angel Trains acceptance.
 
4

47584Suffolk

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Peter Sarf said:
The wheel flats on 720143 cannot be too bad then ?.
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Can anyone please confirm whether 720143 was in fact delivered to Ilford last Friday 25/1? I'm been informed that 720141 was out this morning on FFR trials, but no reports of 720143 seen so far. Thanks.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Pippy1505 said:
720510 + 720516
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That leaves only 720104, 720503, 720504, 720505 and 720534 at Derby.
 
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Peter Sarf

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720144 said:
Are they both coupled together like 141 & 143 last week ?
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Yes arrived with no translators or barrier wagons just like last week. 47739 instead of 47727 though, this one (47739) chugged by me at a low speed past Willesden. Altogether two reminders of my days in the late 70s spent on Birmingham New Street.
 
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Peter Sarf

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3973EXL said:
57310 720505 57303

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1050 Derby Litchurch Lane to Wembley Inter City Depot | 29/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1050 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Wembley Inter City Depot on 29/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Click to expand...
Thanks.
Why Wembley for a change ?.
I guess Willesden is fully occupied with yesterdays delivery of 720510 & 720516 !.
 
8

800001

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I make it the following units still left at Derby:-

720503/504/534/104
701001/003/502/518/524
730202/204
 
720144

720144

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3973EXL said:
57310 720505 57303

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1050 Derby Litchurch Lane to Wembley Inter City Depot | 29/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1050 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to Wembley Inter City Depot on 29/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
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That was quick. Now 5 720’s down south in just over 5 days.

I don’t see why 720505 needed 2x 57’s unlike 510+516 & 141+143 only needed 1 47?
 
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T

trent129

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derby
720144 said:
That was quick. Now 5 720’s down south in just over 5 days.

I don’t see why 720505 needed 2x 57’s unlike 510+516 & 141+143 only needed 1 47?
Click to expand...

720144 said:
That was quick. Now 5 720’s down south in just over 5 days.

I don’t see why 720505 needed 2x 57’s unlike 510+516 & 141+143 only needed 1 47?
Click to expand...
It’s not finished, must be going for further work
 
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