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

[47421]

588 in service today

 

[Alfie1014]

Reported elsewhere that 720105 has been tripped to Wembley today so the first of the second batch may soon be out and about on Anglian metals soon.

 

[36270k]

720589 out today on the 1228 Liverpool Street to Cambridge North

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The list of those that haven’t carried passengers yet is getting ever shorter!

501-510, 512-514, 516, 518-520, 523, 524, 526, 528, 533, 534, 541, 544, 555, 582, 583

 

[Roger B]

I saw 720588 in service on Wednesday 30th March at Bethnal Green.

As I passed Wembley Yard heading north yesterday (Friday) afternoon at about 16.45 I saw two 720s. Anyone know their ids, please?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I saw 720588 in service on Wednesday 30th March at Bethnal Green.

As I passed Wembley Yard heading north yesterday (Friday) afternoon at about 16.45 I saw two 720s. Anyone know their ids, please?

Should be 720 105 and 720 516.

 

[Roger B]

Should be 720 105 and 720 516.

Many thanks Peter - much appreciated.
Is this the first 720/1 on its way - or have others also made the trip?
Thanks again

 

[387star]

How do the narrow aisles compare to centre Coaches of early 377s?
And any squeaky tables?
They look plastic rather than metal so the sides might last better than the southern units which are constantly being resprayed

 

[317 forever]

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

So that's around 2/3 of them in service now?

 

[Gulf1159]

So that's around 2/3 of them in service now?

Of the first batch yes, 720501-589 but none of the second batch 720101-144

 

[Milo T.K]

Have any of the /1s been delivered yet?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Many thanks Peter - much appreciated.
Is this the first 720/1 on its way - or have others also made the trip?
Thanks again

It's the first that I'm aware of that has been delivered.

 

[Milo T.K]

Does the first 720/1s have to do if I'm correct 4000 fault free running miles?

 

[adc82140]

Does the first 720/1s have to do if I'm correct 4000 fault free running miles?

Is there now any difference between the two batches?

 

[Roger B]

It's the first that I'm aware of that has been delivered.

Thanks again Peter.
Good to see that their delivery is continuing on from the 720/5s without any pause - although that perhaps may change when Greater Anglia has enough sets (with spares and cover for maintenance, etc) to run what constitutes a 'full' service these days?

 

[43102EMR]

720105’s on mileage accumulation runs today along the WCML

 

[The_Train]

Can anyone confirm the formation of the 720/1's please?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Can anyone confirm the formation of the 720/1's please?

they’re identical to 720/5s
The only reason they retained the subclass of /1 was so the new numbers didn’t splash into /6, which is for the c2c units.

 

[The_Train]

they’re identical to 720/5s
The only reason they retained the subclass of /1 was so the new numbers didn’t splash into /6, which is for the c2c units.

Oh yeah, of course they are - forgot they'd reverted to 5 cars. Thanks for the info mate

 

[F Great Eastern]

How do the narrow aisles compare to centre Coaches of early 377s?
And any squeaky tables?
They look plastic rather than metal so the sides might last better than the southern units which are constantly being resprayed

They're the narrowest aisles I know.

 

[samuelmorris]

Definitely the narrowest aisles on any train in the UK I think. They are a real struggle to get through and if I want to move through the carriages I'll usually try and do so at a station platform rather than onboard.

 

[Techniquest]

I really don't get this whole struggle to get through the aisle thing, I manage without much effort. Granted, the first train I could think of to compare it with was a 350, initially thinking of a 2+2 layout one but even going through a 350/2 is not much wider than a 720.

If I was wheeling a fairly large suitcase around too, then I would have more issues I suspect but in general, then while I can't exactly waltz my way along (you know, the sidetracked mind there thinks it would actually like to learn that sort of dance!) a 720, it's not like I've got to suck my gut in to get by or whatever!

 

[samuelmorris]

I really don't get this whole struggle to get through the aisle thing, I manage without much effort. Granted, the first train I could think of to compare it with was a 350, initially thinking of a 2+2 layout one but even going through a 350/2 is not much wider than a 720.

If I was wheeling a fairly large suitcase around too, then I would have more issues I suspect but in general, then while I can't exactly waltz my way along (you know, the sidetracked mind there thinks it would actually like to learn that sort of dance!) a 720, it's not like I've got to suck my gut in to get by or whatever!

I'm not sure what to say really. I saw the complaints and always thought I'll reserve judgement until I try them for myself. The benchmark is I wear a fairly large backpack. While wearing it, I fit just fine through the aisles of a 3+2 450. On a 720, I don't. It's not like I can't get through, but it is not easy.

 

[Techniquest]

I'm not sure what to say really. I saw the complaints and always thought I'll reserve judgement until I try them for myself. The benchmark is I wear a fairly large backpack. While wearing it, I fit just fine through the aisles of a 3+2 450. On a 720, I don't. It's not like I can't get through, but it is not easy.

I should point out my post was not aimed at you only, it was meant to be in response to the overall view noted across the forum. So many people seem to be making out these trains are awful, I have to say I don't find them bad. Some issues, yes, but even when I travelled regularly on HSTs back in the mid 2000s I had issues with them despite them being my favourite train. Those fixed armrests!

I'm more than curious though, what backpack do you use? I'm in the market for a new one and starting to look at recommendations.

 

[samuelmorris]

I should point out my post was not aimed at you only, it was meant to be in response to the overall view noted across the forum. So many people seem to be making out these trains are awful, I have to say I don't find them bad. Some issues, yes, but even when I travelled regularly on HSTs back in the mid 2000s I had issues with them despite them being my favourite train. Those fixed armrests!

I'm more than curious though, what backpack do you use? I'm in the market for a new one and starting to look at recommendations.

Oh they're definitely not awful, I'm enjoying having them as my new regular commute. Streets ahead of 317s and 321s, including the Renatus versions. That said, it is hard to overlook the fact that the sound dampening and general interior quality are lower than that of the 360s they also replaced that are 18 years older. Fortunately, multiple toilets per unit, an excellent PIS, plug sockets and seatback tables, acceptable seats plus generally excellent ride quality make them I think on the whole the best train these routes have yet had. We could have done far, far worse.

I've been using Wenger laptop backpacks for about a decade now. They're pretty spacious, useful and comfortable to wear but might be a bit bulky for some.

 

[Techniquest]

It's been too many years since I had a 360, so I can't make a fair comment on the sound dampening difference, but I will take your word for that happily. I don't immediately recall any issue with noise on 720s, but I might be having a memory failure.

Thanks for the tip on the backpack, I'll check them out!

 

[Paul Jones 88]

I find 720s a bit too quiet, no rail noise, not much motor sound so you can hear a baby crying or music playing through a speaker three coaches away.

 

[CBlue]

I find 720s a bit too quiet, no rail noise, not much motor sound so you can hear a baby crying or music playing through a speaker three coaches away.

Sounds fine compared to a 317s motor carriage where nothing quieter than a shouted conversation is possible when under power...

 

[Bikeman78]

Sounds fine compared to a 317s motor carriage where nothing quieter than a shouted conversation is possible when under power...

Precisely why I like sitting there. Drowns out all the phone noise. The other three coaches are quiet.

 

[samuelmorris]

It's been too many years since I had a 360, so I can't make a fair comment on the sound dampening difference, but I will take your word for that happily. I don't immediately recall any issue with noise on 720s, but I might be having a memory failure.

Thanks for the tip on the backpack, I'll check them out!

It's mostly noticeable with the ground rails which are extremely loud on the Western GEML at the moment. Of course 360s had the benefit of gangway doors but even in the middle of the carriage, the sound is quite obtrusive. They're probably on a par with Electrostars for noise insulation and have quieter traction motors than them (though again, still noisier than Desiro UKs if you sit above a powered bogie) but yeah, not much progress in the last couple of decades!