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

[Nicholas Lewis]

Given the massively late delivery, GA may well have a case for cancellation of some units for breach of contract.

The lessors have received compensation from Bombardier for late delivery so doubt that is an option given they have a working unit. As to what the deal is between lessor and lessee is not clear ie have GA been receiving compensation or been able to recover costs for keeping on existing fleets. The DofT will be happiest as the greatly increased leasing charges have been avoided for most of lockdown. As an aside the cynic in me feels thatthey must be delighted with ASLEF approach to teh 701's!

 

[William3000]

I still find it depressing. The 379s were the best trains we had had for decades and then they get rid of them and replace them with cramped tacky 320s.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I still find it depressing. The 379s were the best trains we had had for decades and then they get rid of them and replace them with cramped tacky 320s.

Apart from on the Stansted Express and on a couple of Cambridge diagrams, they were only a temporary stopgap on the West Anglia after 745/1s came along. It is the 317s that were the West Anglia fleet.

 

[jopsuk]

Apart from on the Stansted Express and on a couple of Cambridge diagrams, they were only a temporary stopgap on the West Anglia after 745/1s came along. It is the 317s that were the West Anglia fleet.

the Stansted Express and the Cambridge services are "West Anglia" line services, other than very occasional use they've only ever operated on the West Anglia (and never, I'm pretty sure, in service on Great Eastern Main Line services out of Liverpool Street). They were on the line for many years before the 745s were built, alongside the 317s

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

the Stansted Express and the Cambridge services are "West Anglia" line services, other than very occasional use they've only ever operated on the West Anglia (and never, I'm pretty sure, in service on Great Eastern Main Line services out of Liverpool Street). They were on the line for many years before the 745s were built, alongside the 317s

Cambridge services are West Anglia but they only operated a few. By West Anglia I mean the generic non-Stansted Express services, which apart from those few were always in the hands of 317s.

 

[jopsuk]

Cambridge services are West Anglia but they only operated a few. By West Anglia I mean the generic non-Stansted Express services, which apart from those few were always in the hands of 317s.

I'm not sure where you get that idea. Before the pandemic (and thus also before the introduction of 745s and 720s) 379s were extensively used on Cambridge services off-peak, with (in my experience) at least half of weekend services to Cambridge being 379s

 

[Fincra5]

I still find it depressing. The 379s were the best trains we had had for decades and then they get rid of them and replace them with cramped tacky 320s.

The whole leasing structure is a joke tbh..

 

[JonathanH]

I still find it depressing. The 379s were the best trains we had had for decades and then they get rid of them and replace them with cramped tacky 320s.

The whole leasing structure is a joke tbh..

Even if there wasn't leasing, it is quite possible for a fleet to be removed in the interests of standardisation and cascaded elsewhere.

 

[Bikeman78]

I'm not sure where you get that idea. Before the pandemic (and thus also before the introduction of 745s and 720s) 379s were extensively used on Cambridge services off-peak, with (in my experience) at least half of weekend services to Cambridge being 379s

I agree that weekends were around 50/50 because they had the units off the peak 12 car trains available. Weekdays there was only one pair of class 379s to Cambridge off peak. The other six cycles were class 317s.

 

[Class 170101]

Is it me..or does there seem to be less 720s out on GE services with more 321s in use?

Maybe some trains were damaged in the various storms last week.

 

[Railperf]

Looks like 720554 has broken down at Marks Tey. Up services switching over to the down platform there.

 

[Shwam3]

Looks like 720554 has broken down at Marks Tey. Up services switching over to the down platform there.

Was due to a passenger taken ill.

 

[St. Paddy]

720587 has been moved from Derby to Wembley today, presumably prior to mileage accumulation runs. Not long before the 720/1s appear now I guess.

 

[warwickshire]

720587 has been moved from Derby to Wembley today, presumably prior to mileage accumulation runs. Not long before the 720/1s appear now I guess.

Hauled by 47749.
Have the rest off the movements now going to Wembley rather than oxley?

 

[DBS92042]

Hauled by 47749.
Have the rest off the movements now going to Wembley rather than oxley?

720587 has been moved from Derby to Wembley today, presumably prior to mileage accumulation runs. Not long before the 720/1s appear now I guess.

720526 has also moved today, from Oxley to Wembley

Realtime Trains | 5Q96 0900 Oxley Car. M.D. to Wembley Inter City Depot | 04/03/2022

Real-time train running information for 5Q96 0900 departure from Oxley Car. M.D. to Wembley Inter City Depot on 04/03/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[47421]

Reported on Twitter that 0651 Camb LivSt was 2x720 this morning. Anyone know if that is booked now, and if any other West Anglia services also now booked 10 car? Need some, lots of reports of standing from Audley End in morning peak this week

 

[Shwam3]

Reported on Twitter that 0651 Camb LivSt was 2x720 this morning. Anyone know if that is booked now, and if any other West Anglia services also now booked 10 car? Need some, lots of reports of standing from Audley End in morning peak this week

That is the first 10 car diagram on the West Anglia, more diagrams will follow in the coming weeks.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

That is the first 10 car diagram on the West Anglia, more diagrams will follow in the coming weeks.

Thats good if there going for strengthening as a priority rather than elimination of 317's

 

[59CosG95]

720588 has now been moved from Litchurch Lane to Oxley for fault-free running. https://flic.kr/p/2n7Q9tQ

 

[47421]

720 581 on 1600 Stratford Stortford failed just outside Brox, 1612 Liv St Hertford East cape Brox gone to help

On the move 112 late, and a totally destroyed evening peak

 

[Wivenswold]

Even if there wasn't leasing, it is quite possible for a fleet to be removed in the interests of standardisation and cascaded elsewhere.

Absolutely. There was no leasing when recently refurbished 309s were ditched for a small number of 321 or when London Underground withdrew the TS 1983 fleet and left most of it rotting in sidings for 10 years.

It is a scandal that such good quality rolling stock is sitting in sidings while so many older diesel trains are chugging around the UK countryside, but it's a complex old story that got us here, one that requires a look at how the railway has been run by Westminster over the last........say 65 years.

 

[Fenchurch SP]

Is the moquette design supposed to depict anything in particular? It looks like different eras of Underground trains - red, white or grey, and red/white stripes.

 

[robert west]

720532 is currently working 2F71 1735 Colchester Town to Liverpool St (with 578).

720527 leading 571 on 1800 braintre to liverpool street tonight

720527 leading 571 on 1800 braintre to liverpool street tonight

720585 in use today on 1138 london to colchester town

 

[Wivenswold]

That's 527/585/587 into service in March.

I have 516/526/529/588 at Ilford and still under test. Happy to be corrected.

Only 589 out on the WCML at the moment? Must be more than that.

Anyway, it feels like things are improving in terms of fault-free running. But, jeez, it's been a painful wait. Imagine had Covid not happened.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 512, 513, 514, 516, 518, 519, 520, 523, 524, 526, 528, 529, 533, 534, 541, 544, 555, 582, 583, 588, 589 of the batch to enter service now

 

[Shwam3]

Just 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 512, 513, 514, 516, 518, 519, 520, 523, 524, 526, 528, 529, 533, 534, 541, 544, 555, 582, 583, 588, 589 of the batch to enter service now

529 entered service on 18th March.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

529 entered service on 18th March.

Many thanks

 

[Roger B]

That's 527/585/587 into service in March.

I have 516/526/529/588 at Ilford and still under test. Happy to be corrected.

Only 589 out on the WCML at the moment? Must be more than that.

Anyway, it feels like things are improving in terms of fault-free running. But, jeez, it's been a painful wait. Imagine had Covid not happened.

Many thanks Wivenswold. Do you have a date for 720587 entering service please - I'd not picked up on that one. Many thanks

 

[Wivenswold]

First observation of it in service that I've seen is 16/03/22. It may have sneaked out before though.

 

[Roger B]

First observation of it in service that I've seen is 16/03/22. It may have sneaked out before though.

Thanks for that. I'll keep an eye out for it on Wednesday, when I hope to be mopping-up a few 345s and 720s.