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

[Peter Mugridge]

720 568 is in service today; highest numbered one I've seen in traffic so far. Currently with 720 548 on the 15.18 Liverpool Street to Clacton.

 

[Techniquest]

720570+574 were on test (with banners in the doorways of 570 saying so) at Southend Victoria this morning at 1115 when I rolled in on 720559. I saw quite a few 720s out in service today, so I'm glad I made my 321 farewell trip last month when I could as it's getting less and less likely to find a 321 now.

 

[Milo T.K]

Saw 720580 which is one of last few /5s. What's happening with the /1s?

 

[Techniquest]

I wondered about the /1s as well. Does anyone know which 2 720s were on Wembley EUFOC around 1352 yesterday (16/10/2021)? Couldn't quite make out the ID.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I wondered about the /1s as well. Does anyone know which 2 720s were on Wembley EUFOC around 1352 yesterday (16/10/2021)? Couldn't quite make out the ID.

720 577 and 720 580 were reported there yesterday at 15.53 ( and reported still there today at 14.20 ), so I would imagine it'll be those two.

 

[Techniquest]

720 577 and 720 580 were reported there yesterday at 15.53 ( and reported still there today at 14.20 ), so I would imagine it'll be those two.

Thanks! One of them did look like 720580, so I'll take that and tick them off in my NREA

 

[adc82140]

Saw 720580 which is one of last few /5s. What's happening with the /1s?

Are there still a load of the lower numbered /5s at Worksop?

 

[The_Train]

Saw 720580 which is one of last few /5s. What's happening with the /1s?

Was 580 in service, on test or on depot when you saw it?

 

[Milo T.K]

Was 580 in service, on test or on depot when you saw it?

Was in service. I defo know it was a 58x unit

 

[JTP1973]

There was a 10 car test run going through Hockley just before 2PM this afternoon. Not sure of the units numbers. One of teh coach numbers ended in 570.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

There was a 10 car test run going through Hockley just before 2PM this afternoon. Not sure of the units numbers. One of teh coach numbers ended in 570.

That would have to be 720 570 then as the last digits generally match on anything these days.

 

[Wivenswold]

According to my notes, happy for corrections/additions.

In service: 511/515/517/522/536-540/542/543/545/547-554/556-564/566/568 (Total - 31)

Delivered and on test: 546/570/571/574

 

[robert west]

According to my notes, happy for corrections/additions.

In service: 511/515/517/522/536-540/542/543/545/547-554/556-564/566/568 (Total - 31)

Delivered and on test: 546/570/571/574

thanks for the update

 

[JamesC357]

According to my notes, happy for corrections/additions.

In service: 511/515/517/522/536-540/542/543/545/547-554/556-564/566/568 (Total - 31)

Delivered and on test: 546/570/571/574

Pretty sure 509 was the first to be delivered way back in March last year, has it still not entered service?

Genuine question as I’m not sure myself, but it seems odd that it would have been with GA that long and still not entered service

 

[jopsuk]

According to my notes, happy for corrections/additions.

In service: 511/515/517/522/536-540/542/543/545/547-554/556-564/566/568 (Total - 31)

Delivered and on test: 546/570/571/574

so still another 102 to enter service!

 

[Gulf1159]

Pretty sure 509 was the first to be delivered way back in March last year, has it still not entered service?

Genuine question as I’m not sure myself, but it seems odd that it would have been with GA that long and still not entered service

720509 was first unit delivered but returned to worksop on 08/07/20

 

[robert west]

Pretty sure 509 was the first to be delivered way back in March last year, has it still not entered service?

Genuine question as I’m not sure myself, but it seems odd that it would have been with GA that long and still not entered service

broke down between Hatfield Peverell and Witham on test last summer and was dumped at Witham down loop overnight and hasn't been seen since

 

[adc82140]

so still another 102 to enter service!

What do they plan on doing with all those? The rest of the 321s, 317s and the 379s are going, but given that the 720s are 5 car, that's more than a replacement.

 

[samuelmorris]

What do they plan on doing with all those? The rest of the 321s, 317s and the 379s are going, but given that the 720s are 5 car, that's more than a replacement.

Barely. I think you might misremember how many 321s, 317s and 360s there were. Even based on the 379s being replaced directly by the 745s (which, not really the case any longer), there were I believe 195 units between the 317s, 321s and 360s, and only 133 720s replacing them. Granted, not all of the 317s were needed alongside the 360s but there wasn't much of an uplift in quantity of units. It's only potential surplus now due to covid reductions.

 

[Techniquest]

Did I just read that right, the 745/1s are potentially moving?!

I agree with the rest of that, the number of 321s and 360s alone in use during the peak periods through Stratford used to be absolutely nuts. All those triple 321s and 360s, not to mention endless pairs of them, there will have been a need for quite a few 720s to replace just those.

 

[AC47461]

Did I just read that right, the 745/1s are potentially moving?!

I agree with the rest of that, the number of 321s and 360s alone in use during the peak periods through Stratford used to be absolutely nuts. All those triple 321s and 360s, not to mention endless pairs of them, there will have been a need for quite a few 720s to replace just those.

I think the 745/1s are rumoured to be all going over the GEML with 720s used on the Stansteds (there's a few threads elsewhere on this).

720 571 was in service this morning on the 0733 Liv St - Southend Vic

 

[adc82140]

Barely. I think you might misremember how many 321s, 317s and 360s there were. Even based on the 379s being replaced directly by the 745s (which, not really the case any longer), there were I believe 195 units between the 317s, 321s and 360s, and only 133 720s replacing them. Granted, not all of the 317s were needed alongside the 360s but there wasn't much of an uplift in quantity of units. It's only potential surplus now due to covid reductions.

Ah. I forgot about the 360s.

 

[samuelmorris]

Did I just read that right, the 745/1s are potentially moving?!

I agree with the rest of that, the number of 321s and 360s alone in use during the peak periods through Stratford used to be absolutely nuts. All those triple 321s and 360s, not to mention endless pairs of them, there will have been a need for quite a few 720s to replace just those.

Yes, generally speaking, I believe 720s are to take over Stansted Express relatively soon and 745/1s will be used to augment 745/0s as well as operate a small number of Ipswich and Clacton services. I don't honestly recall if the units were being refitted as appropriate. I believe the 720/5s were being refitted to deal with airport luggage, but whether the 745/1s will receive first class and tables I'm not sure.

 

[Bikeman78]

What do they plan on doing with all those? The rest of the 321s, 317s and the 379s are going, but given that the 720s are 5 car, that's more than a replacement.

Don't forget that the 720s are nearly all running around solo at the moment. The original plan was for pairs on most trains in the peaks.

 

[Techniquest]

I think the 745/1s are rumoured to be all going over the GEML with 720s used on the Stansteds (there's a few threads elsewhere on this).

720 571 was in service this morning on the 0733 Liv St - Southend Vic

Yes, generally speaking, I believe 720s are to take over Stansted Express relatively soon and 745/1s will be used to augment 745/0s as well as operate a small number of Ipswich and Clacton services. I don't honestly recall if the units were being refitted as appropriate. I believe the 720/5s were being refitted to deal with airport luggage, but whether the 745/1s will receive first class and tables I'm not sure.

Thanks both, well I'd best get my rear end into gear soon and do a 745 to Stansted while I still can!

 

[warwickshire]

Thanks both, well I'd best get my rear end into gear soon and do a 745 to Stansted while I still can!

Yes 720571 most certainly was saw it at shenfield on the evening southend services.

 

[The_Train]

Seen a photo of 720573 in service today!
Not sure if it had been reported as being in service previously on here but my records indicated it hadn't so thought I'd let the people know

 

[TopsyT]

Seen a photo of 720573 in service today!
Not sure if it had been reported as being in service previously on here but my records indicated it hadn't so thought I'd let the people know

720573 and 720569 were accepted on Saturday 23rd, and their first services were on Monday. 573 is in multiple on the Southend branch today and 569 is multiple and doing the Colchester/Colchester Town runs this afternoon.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Saw 720580 which is one of last few /5s. What's happening with the /1s?

Am I right in thinking the class 720 order has been changed from a mix of fives and tens to all fives. Something about not having a facility to handle ten car units.

 

[TopsyT]

Am I right in thinking the class 720 order has been changed from a mix of fives and tens to all fives. Something about not having a facility to handle ten car units.

Yes, all plans for 10 car 720's have been cancelled