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

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720144

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503 also in service today, currently on 2O74 14.58 LST-CHN
Yeah it’s not showing on rtt yet.

How incredible to have 4 entering into service in 1 day. I’m afraid there will be another pause after 143 enters service next.
 
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1D54

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Are GA short of units for some reason or other or is it just coincidental that four enter service on one day? Not that I'm complaining of course!
 

720_Aventra

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As 720141 started it's day today 01.03.25 at Cambridge does that indicate that it entered service yesterday in order to get there for today ?
Anyone know ?
Yeah it would of. However RTT didn't show what 141 was working



That’s been in service for well over 2 years, should be 1 of the remaining 3 still sat at derby currently, which are 104, 504 & 534.

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Brilliant, that leaves us with 143 & 503 to enter service next
143 and 503 have been accepted for passenger use now. Which now leaves 104, 504, 505 and 534 to enter service.
1740842895325.png
 

720144

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Are GA short of units for some reason or other or is it just coincidental that four enter service on one day? Not that I'm complaining of course!
Not excactly train shortages, but quite a few 720’s are blocked at Hertford East, Cambridge & Bishops Stortford due to engineering works between Broxbourne & Stansted Mountfitchet this weekend.

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Yeah it would of. However RTT didn't show what 141 was working
There was a Liverpool Street to Cambridge & back ecs yesterday.

5H35 & 5H90.
 
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Obar123

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There was a Liverpool Street to Cambridge & back ecs yesterday.

5H35 & 5H90.
I'm guessing that was to test something with Cambridge South? It stopped in both platforms one on the way to Cambridge and the other on the way back. What it was testing or doing I don't know but it stopped for a few minutes as I watched it from the bridge!
 

720144

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The livery on 720 506 might be a factor in the choice...?



They specifically mentioned 720 506 in their tweet.
The pride one? Could’ve chosen 720111 least we forget or 720110 celebrating black history month.
 
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Peter Sarf

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I went past Willesden and Wembley on the DC lines yesterday evening. No sign of a 720 which is consistent with all those delivered from Derby being in service. Except that 720505 is somewhere other than Derby, last reported delivered to Wembley (not Willesden). Has any one seen it recently ?.
 

Class 170101

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I'm on a single 720 on the 0918 Liverpool St - Clacton, I thought the Clactons were normally double sets?
Not on Saturdays. Unlikely to be a double on Saturday as its too early. According to RTT it started from Harwich International.
 

JonathanH

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I'm on a single 720 on the 0918 Liverpool St - Clacton, I thought the Clactons were normally double sets?
The Saturday diagrams cycle through trips to Colchester, Ipswich and Clacton. They aren't all pairs. Likewise, the Southend diagrams cycle through each of the three hourly departures to Southend and the Braintree.
 

Alfie1014

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I'm on a single 720 on the 0918 Liverpool St - Clacton, I thought the Clactons were normally double sets?
The norm is 5 cars off peak except when there are special events in London, football matches, the run up to Christmas, though there are the odd exceptions such as the 09:05 and 10:05 ex Clacton.
I'm on a single 720 on the 0918 Liverpool St - Clacton, I thought the Clactons were normally double sets?
 

720144

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According to rtt, 720143 has also somehow ended up in the Cambridge area last week along with 141 & it’s first ever passenger service is expected to be 1H83 05:52 from Ely to Liverpool Street.
 
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3973EXL

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Possible move 03/03
"Q" as required
Both schedules activated - 69012 0D20 dep Leicester LIP 1000
 
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gazr

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Could some kind soul list the 720s that currently have not worked a passenger service? From what I have gathered, it's down to just 6?
 

robert west

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According to rtt, 720143 has also somehow ended up in the Cambridge area last week along with 141 & it’s first ever passenger service is expected to be 1H83 05:52 from Ely to Liverpool Street.
according to rtt it's on 2O13 0839 Hertford east to Liverpool street
 

alm37

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I think after the flurry of new entrants to service yesterday and today, the list is just 4. 505 believed to be at Alstom Wembley, plus 104, 504 and 534 still at Derby. One of those may be on its way south today. All recent deliveries to Ilford now appear to have been in service.
Could some kind soul list the 720s that currently have not worked a passenger service? From what I have gathered, it's down to just 6?
 

robert west

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I think after the flurry of new entrants to service yesterday and today, the list is just 4. 505 believed to be at Alstom Wembley, plus 104, 504 and 534 still at Derby. One of those may be on its way south today. All recent deliveries to Ilford now appear to have been in service.
The Shenfield to Southend 5q's are running today so 505 may possibly be on these
 

gazr

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I think after the flurry of new entrants to service yesterday and today, the list is just 4. 505 believed to be at Alstom Wembley, plus 104, 504 and 534 still at Derby. One of those may be on its way south today. All recent deliveries to Ilford now appear to have been in service.
cheers... good to see them nearly all in use
 

Peter Sarf

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+
720 104 is being delivered to Willesden today, behind 69 012.
Seems to e on the above paths.
First one (0D20 light loco) already successfully arrived at Derby.
Next is to see if 5Q68 departs (and does not break down on the way like last time).
 

720144

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720 104 is being delivered to Willesden today, behind 69 012.
And I was correct again.

That now leaves us with the penaltimenth drag to be 720504 & last but not so least 720534.

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The Shenfield to Southend 5q's are running today so 505 may possibly be on these
Isn’t 720505 still getting commissioned at Wembley ?
 

Peter Sarf

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And I was correct again.

That now leaves us with the penaltimenth drag to be 720504 & last but not so least 720534.

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Isn’t 720505 still getting commissioned at Wembley ?
I have done a few fly-pasts of Wembley from the DC lines to no avail. My guess is 720505 might be in/near the little shed on the East side of the DC lines - where a 390 can be seen sticking out of each end.

Commissioned was my hope but nothing to say it is not there being a parts donor for other 720s. Happens all the time with new fleets - one falls by the wayside and the inevitable parts shortage leads to it needing more and more work to ever get it going. Only difference this time is a "Christmas tree" has not even seen delivery or use !. Just my pessimism.
 

Covshire1

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I have done a few fly-pasts of Wembley from the DC lines to no avail. My guess is 720505 might be in/near the little shed on the East side of the DC lines - where a 390 can be seen sticking out of each end.

Commissioned was my hope but nothing to say it is not there being a parts donor for other 720s. Happens all the time with new fleets - one falls by the wayside and the inevitable parts shortage leads to it needing more and more work to ever get it going. Only difference this time is a "Christmas tree" has not even seen delivery or use !. Just my pessimism.
It was definitely in that area last week when these photos were taken. Still looks in a bit of a state!


 

wickham

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That is a VERY interesting picture of 720505 ! It still has no numbers and lots of underfloor equipment does not seem to be there as well as some of the front panels being missing. You can't see properly but the seats don't look right - are they possibly just frames ? I would say that there is a LOT of work to be done on this unit and it will not be commissioned any time soon
 

720144

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800001

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What an absolute mess of 505! I suspect that will definitely be the last unit to conclude the entire 720 delivery to greateranglia.
505 was sent from Derby to Willesden for the unit to have completion work undertaken.

Hardly call it a mess, it’s got a couple of panels on the front end missing, one of which will of been removed for the unit to be shunted.
 

Peter Sarf

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505 was sent from Derby to Willesden for the unit to have completion work undertaken.

Hardly call it a mess, it’s got a couple of panels on the front end missing, one of which will of been removed for the unit to be shunted.
Indeed, and it was Wembley.

My only fear is if a spares donor is required then 720505 is obviously the one. Has 720505 had work done on it at Wembley OR has it had parts removed. I keep remembering that is seems every new fleet going back decades ends up short of spares and one or more units end up being a spares donor. This time before the unit has even been delivered !.

Just to add. This evening (Monday 03/03/2025 circa 18:30) I went past the depot on the DC lines through Stonebridge Park and it (or a 720) was poking out of the Wembley Central end of the long shed. I could only see the middle 60% of what I assume was an end coach so could not id it even if it had numbers on it !. It is in the shed road that the 390 is on in the pictures (in below post) from 27/02/2025, a 390 was still there on Friday 28/02/2025.

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It was definitely in that area last week when these photos were taken. Still looks in a bit of a state!


Nice pictures @Covshire1.
 
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