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

[theblackwatch]

Perfect, thank you.

511/515/517/521/522/535-540/542/543/545-554/556-571/573/574/577/578/580/581 are those in service so far then.

501-510/512-514, 516, 518-520, 523-534, 541, 544, 555, 572, 575, 576, 579, 582-589 and /1 still to go.

720531/575 reported in service as of today on the UK Modern EMU group.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

720531/575 reported in service as of today on the UK Modern EMU group.

Thank you!

 

[wobman]

Just seen 2x 720's parked up at Oxley depot this morning, they must be based at Oxley for their wcml testing

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

What's the comparison seat wise between a 5 car 720 and an 8 car 379? I think 10 car 720 is due by April/May, and they'll be much needed by then!

 

[100andthirty]

I thought 10-car class 720 weren't going ahead - decision mid-2020 - and they'll all be 5-car units with, of course, the ability to couple two together to make a 10-car. Or have I missed the point?

 

[XAM2175]

I thought 10-car class 720 weren't going ahead - decision mid-2020 - and they'll all be 5-car units with, of course, the ability to couple two together to make a 10-car.

That is indeed the case.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I thought 10-car class 720 weren't going ahead - decision mid-2020 - and they'll all be 5-car units with, of course, the ability to couple two together to make a 10-car. Or have I missed the point?

I believe he means they’re due to start coupling them to make 10 car sets on the WA by then, if the necessary works have been completed

 

[Bald Rick]

What's the comparison seat wise between a 5 car 720 and an 8 car 379? I think 10 car 720 is due by April/May, and they'll be much needed by then!

8 car 379 = 418 seats (inc 40 in first)

5 car 720 = 540 seats (all standard)

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

8 car 379 = 418 seats (inc 40 in first)

5 car 720 = 540 seats (all standard)

8 car 379 comfortable

5 car 720 squashed in like sardines

 

[Railperf]

8 car 379 comfortable

5 car 720 squashed in like sardines

How many seats in a 720 if you exclude the 'middle' seat in a row of 3? In fact those seats are so narrow that you could argue that quite often only one seat of the other two is actually used unless people are travelling together. So for every row of 2+3, you effectively end up with only 3 possibly 4 seats occupied and people standing.
These would be a nightmare to use if ever they appear on a Stansted service without mods.

 

[Bald Rick]

How many seats in a 720 if you exclude the 'middle' seat in a row of 3? In fact those seats are so narrow that you could argue that quite often only one seat of the other two is actually used unless people are travelling together. So for every row of 2+3, you effectively end up with only 3 possibly 4 seats occupied and people standing.
These would be a nightmare to use if ever they appear on a Stansted service without mods.

I don’t know, but logically it can’t be less than 432. I suspect it will be somewhere round the 450 mark.

I agree that a more spaced out 2+2 would have been better. Even then that would have seen a significant capacity uplift - 240m of 720 having around 900 seats in 2+2, compared to 240m of 379 having 627 seats.

 

[OvergroundMatt]

5-car 720 in service to Hertford East at Hackney Downs this morning - with a 317 coming in the other direction on the same route.

 

[Jturner98]

Went to Tottenham Hale yesterday. Both Cambridge North trains I saw were 5 carriage 720s. On both occasions of them stopping people who were expecting an 8 carriage unit had a rather quick walk to the leading vehicle. In my opinion 5 carriages is too small for a Cambridge service

 

[JonathanH]

Went to Tottenham Hale yesterday. Both Cambridge North trains I saw were 5 carriage 720s. On both occasions of them stopping people who were expecting an 8 carriage unit had a rather quick walk to the leading vehicle. In my opinion 5 carriages is too small for a Cambridge service

Maybe the users will get used to it - the passenger information displays there do show the length of the trains.

One of the problems with Tottenham Hale is the clutter on the platform area / narrow platforms on the covered bit.

 

[St. Paddy]

720586 arrived at Oxley yesterday

 

[Domk]

Today, both Stratford to Meridian Water services are being operated by 720s. My off peak 0943 TH-ST is quite busy! Looking forward to normal services from next week

 

[OvergroundMatt]

Today, both Stratford to Meridian Water services are being operated by 720s. My off peak 0943 TH-ST is quite busy! Looking forward to normal services from next week

Presumably 5-cars?

 

[Domk]

Presumably 5-cars?

Correct

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

GA seem to be content though with three new ones put into traffic last week.

May I ask which ones please? I’m trying to keep up with which are in service.

I posted this erroneously in the Class 701 but would like to re-ask here, that is if you have that information @Nicholas Lewis

 

[Shwam3]

I posted this erroneously in the Class 701 but would like to re-ask here, that is if you have that information @Nicholas Lewis

In 2022 so far: 567, 575, 531, 576 (on 08/01, 21/01, 21/01, 27/01 respectively). 48 accepted in total.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

In 2022 so far: 567, 575, 531, 576 (on 08/01, 21/01, 21/01, 27/01 respectively). 48 accepted in total.

Thanks.

 

[43102EMR]

Should be noted that all diagrams bar one on the West Anglia route yesterday were covered by a 720… didn’t realise they had enough to do so in all honesty.

 

[Railperf]

Next week will be crunch time as four extra pairs of 317/379 or four additional 720's needed for the Stratford to Bishops Stortford /Meridian Water services alone.
Two pairs of 379 out today (Tues 2 Feb) and 1 pair 317.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Next week will be crunch time as another 10 diagrams needed for the Stratford to Bishops Stortford /Meridian Water services alone.
Two pairs of 379 out today.

Or is that 5 diagrams of a single 720?

 

[Roger B]

Or is that 5 diagrams of a single 720?

Or 20?

 

[Railperf]

The stratford diagrams increase from 2 to 6 per day so 4 additional diagrams for a single unit or 8 additional for pairs of units.

 

[87015]

The stratford diagrams increase from 2 to 6 per day so 4 additional diagrams for a single unit or 8 additional for pairs of units.

Stratford can only be 5-cars until platform extensions are done to 11 and/or 12.

 

[Railperf]

Stratford can only be 5-cars until platform extensions are done to 11 and/or 12.

Is that planned?

 

[ashkeba]

Darn DfT & there obsession with maximising & having any input on train seating.

I do wonder if DfT collected any evidence on commuter preferences before going at seat-counts-above-everything for the 720s, or whether it was led by politicians wanting to say z% more seats. Does anyone know?

 

[dk1]

I do wonder if DfT collected any evidence on commuter preferences before going at seat-counts-above-everything for the 720s, or whether it was led by politicians wanting to say z% more seats. Does anyone know?

Most if not all the priorities when evaluating the replacement fleets for the GEML came down to increasing capacity in the peak hours.