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

[Shwam3]

Are 720s cleared for the Seven Sisters route out of Liverpool Street?
This has been used by Greater Anglia in the past for engineering work diversions with 317s and 379s.

Yes

 

[Class 170101]

Has Anyone got a idea when the 720s can do split/couple services?

Not cleared for splitting or Joining en-route yet, computer software issues so I've heard (and we've heard all this before). Hence certain trains are formed of Class 321s.

 

[mtmikethom]

It has surprised everyone that a 720 (just) fits in platform 1 at Manningtree. A lot of people would have lost money betting it wouldn’t.

I notice the stopping mark (was 4 car I think) which was quite a few yards from the buffer has gone from Manningtree bay platform, trains are going up to buffer nearly, my estimation that a 720 wouldn’t fit was probably based on the stop mark, but as said they fit nicely with SDO

 

[Islineclear3_1]

571 was on test on the Southend line today with another unit; sorry, didn't ID, might have been 549?

 

[306024]

I notice the stopping mark (was 4 car I think) which was quite a few yards from the buffer has gone from Manningtree bay platform, trains are going up to buffer nearly, my estimation that a 720 wouldn’t fit was probably based on the stop mark, but as said they fit nicely with SDO

That 4 car stop board short of the buffer stops was to do with the ramp for disabled access not fouling the stairs and lift infrastructure on the platform when 360s were in regular use. A 720 now has to go right up to the stops as you say.

 

[William3000]

Got the 0728 from Whittlesford to Cambridge today.

First impressions: Wow, the aisle is narrow. Large people or people with luggage are going to really struggle to move through the train. I had a small shoulder bag and it was difficult. It's definitely been designed with commuters in mind.

The bike spaces are decidedly average. A poor showing compared to the 745s. They're shared with tip up seats means that inevitably cyclists will have to annoy people by moving them.

Also they have pedal holder things which are, in my opinion, unhelpful. They just get in the way.

Totally agree - a massive step down compared to the 379s which are great. Once again the West Anglia Mainline is relegated to a secondary route compared to Great Eastern Mainline. Shame the 745s aren’t used for King’s Lynn and Cambridge.

 

[Ianno87]

My son and I sat in the first pair of "airline" seats by the door, with the first bay of 3 in front of us.

It made me notice the number of people the clouted the 3 seat as they walked through the carriage...

One positive is the 2+1 tip up seats in some of the doorways - a group of lads were using these as bay seating...which doesn't matter on West Anglia as (unless you are going in the loops at Harlow or Broxbourne), all platforms are on one side, so doesn't matter if folks sit in the other side.

 

[Bald Rick]

Once again the West Anglia Mainline is relegated to a secondary route compared to Great Eastern Mainline

Err, doesn’t the GEML have the same trains?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Totally agree - a massive step down compared to the 379s which are great. Once again the West Anglia Mainline is relegated to a secondary route compared to Great Eastern Mainline. Shame the 745s aren’t used for King’s Lynn and Cambridge.

So what do you think is running on the Southend and Clacton/Ipswich lines then...??

 

[Ianno87]

If anything, the 720s probably are quite well-suited to Hertford East/Bishops Stortford stoppers.

 

[iphone76]

Does anyone have the number for a good solicitor please? I'm currently on the 1829 from Stratford to a Southend line stop. I made the mistake of sitting on the aisle as it's busy as they don't have enought trains. My arm has fallen off from everyone walking past. I need compo.

But in all seriousness. These trains are not well designed. They have the seats, but in 30 years I've never had my arm bashed this much in a 321. And at shenfield the door seats caused people to standup when they didn't need to. Hopefully when Greater Anglia have enough trains to run their service it'll be better.

 

[306024]

Does anyone have the number for a good solicitor please? I'm currently on the 1829 from Stratford to a Southend line stop. I made the mistake of sitting on the aisle as it's busy as they don't have enought trains. My arm has fallen off from everyone walking past. I need compo.

Remember to pick your arm up before you get off. Bruised hips is another problem, not helped by those plastic grab handles. Shame a nice train has been spoiled by maximising seats which is not now the priority, although 2+3 seating would still be needed unless you accept an overall decrease in seating capacity, which the DfT wouldn’t.

Without checking every dimension, are 24m coaches slightly narrower to keep in guage?, hence what seems to be a narrower aisle compared to a 20m class 321 or 360.

There are enough trains on a Sunday to run longer formations, but passengers losing arms is probably cheaper.

 

[iphone76]

Remember to pick your arm up before you get off. Bruised hips is another problem, not helped by those plastic grab handles. Shame a nice train has been spoiled by maximising seats which is not now the priority, although 2+3 seating would still be needed unless you accept an overall decrease in seating capacity, which the DfT wouldn’t.

Without checking every dimension, are 24m coaches slightly narrower to keep in guage?, hence what seems to be a narrower aisle compared to a 20m class 321 or 360.

There are enough trains on a Sunday to run longer formations, but passengers losing arms is probably cheaper.

I forgot and have out in a request to lost property. Xx

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, 24m vehicles are narrower and so arguably not suitable for 3+2.

 

[Domh245]

Yes, 24m vehicles are narrower and so arguably not suitable for 3+2.

Depends - from when I snapped a picture of the endplate of a 720, they claim a width of 2.77m - Railwaycentre claims a width of 2.79m on the 360s and 2.82m on 321s so not exactly hugely different (at least when compared to the 360s). Not sure if it's a more tapered body profile or the seats being wider which narrows the gangway so significantly

 

[iphone76]

Depends - from when I snapped a picture of the endplate of a 720, they claim a width of 2.77m - Railwaycentre claims a width of 2.79m on the 360s and 2.82m on 321s so not exactly hugely different (at least when compared to the 360s). Not sure if it's a more tapered body profile or the seats being wider which narrows the gangway so significantly

I can't believe I'm typing this in this context, but that 5cm really does appear to make a difference between the 321 and 720. Yesterday was the first time I'd been on such a busy one, and it was noticeable how closed in everything felt.

Plus the seats by the doors don't work in reality people were shuffling around, and it slowed boarding down. It's also harder to see if there are any seats in the main areas of the train between the doors so people spend longer floating around in the vestibule area.

I'm sure we will get used to them over time, or things will be better when they have enough to run 10 cars when needed.

 

[Goldfish62]

Depends - from when I snapped a picture of the endplate of a 720, they claim a width of 2.77m - Railwaycentre claims a width of 2.79m on the 360s and 2.82m on 321s so not exactly hugely different (at least when compared to the 360s). Not sure if it's a more tapered body profile or the seats being wider which narrows the gangway so significantly

I've yet to travel on one but from photos the gangways look no narrower than on Electrostars with 2+3 seating or the 458s in original format. In the former case it's due to the thick sidewalls and in the latter case it was due to ducting running along the sidewalls. The 450s have noticeably wider gangways because the sidewalls are thinner.

 

[MikeWM]

Rather unexpectedly, got my first one of these on Saturday between Liverpool Street and Cambridge (because Great Northern were having the usual Saturday meltdown). Think that's my first time back on the WAML south of Bishops Stortford in 18 months, not sure why that's taken so long, guess I finally got used to GN again.

First impression : quite a step down in experience from the 379s Admittedly I really like the 379s, but I can't say I was very impressed with the replacement.

 

[Wivenswold]

Well off topic but aren't the 379s strongly rumoured to be going to GN to release some 387s back to Gat Ex? Or am I having more rolling stock cascade dreams again?
Interesting about the issues separating the 720s, I assume that issue is impacting deliveries. Have any more entered service?

 

[KC1]

Carpet has considerable sound-deadening properties. It's the main reason the 720s sound so much quieter inside than 345s. It does need a lot of cleaning but ultimately makes for a more pleasant travelling environment if looked after.

Deleted

 

[samuelmorris]

Deleted

I realise this post was deleted but despite living there I generally agree with you

 

[Paul Jones 88]

I'd rather have a bit of rail noise as it mitigates unnecessary noises made by certain selfish passengers.

 

[TRAX]

I'd rather have a bit of rail noise as it mitigates unnecessary noises made by certain selfish passengers.

Yeah I do agree. Quiet buses and trains really aren't something positive to me, in this day and age of noisy passengers and cell phones.

 

[robert west]

Yeah I do agree. Quiet buses and trains really aren't something positive to me, in this day and age of noisy passengers and cell phones.

720559 in use yesterday on 0716 Witham to Liverpool street (1st time seen this one)

Does anyone have a list of what units are at Ilford please
many thanks.

 

[sharpley]

720580 on-route to Old Dalby. About to reverse at Melton Mowbray at the time of writing for the final stretch down to the test track.

Realtime Trains - 5Q15 0905 Derby Litchurch Lane to Melton Mowbray Up Loop

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Terry Williams]

720580 on-route to Old Dalby. About to reverse at Melton Mowbray at the time of writing for the final stretch down to the test track.

Realtime Trains - 5Q15 0905 Derby Litchurch Lane to Melton Mowbray Up Loop

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Look like, according to RTT, 5Q15 terminated in Melton Mowbray up loop and formed 5Q16 (13:16) to Wembley

 

[Techniquest]

I had 720556 today on the 0953 Cambridge North to London Liverpool Street, surprised how nice a ride that was. Yesterday 720561 was at Ely (around 1745) although its working I didn't know and it went out ECS. Training run?

Seemed to be more pairs of 720s out now too, saw one pair (think 549 was in it, I noted it on the approach from Cambridge so didn't make copious notes) to Southend Victoria as I arrived at 1115, and there was another pair off to Colchester Town that I saw.

Photos attached are of 720561 at Ely yesterday and 720556 today at Cambridge on its way to Cambridge North.

 

[Kite159]

I guess the unit at Ely is for training for when they take over running the limited GA Kings Lynn services?

 

[317666]

The unit at Ely was presumably the 17:39 2H42 arrival from Liverpool Street which goes ECS back to Cambridge CS. Although yesterday it only ran from Bishop's Stortford due to disruption.

 

[Techniquest]

The unit at Ely was presumably the 17:39 2H42 arrival from Liverpool Street which goes ECS back to Cambridge CS. Although yesterday it only ran from Bishop's Stortford due to disruption.

Probably so. There seems to have been a fair bit of disruption in the area every day this week, it was OK this morning it seemed, I certainly didn't notice anything untoward.