Greater Anglia Rolling Stock Updates

[Bikeman78]

I assume that the 379s not being able to work in multiple is the cause of the short forming on West Anglia that have appeared since?

Yes that is right. There aren't enough 317s to cover everything and the 379s were only allowed to run solo until Wednesday. Two pairs of 379s turned out on Thursday but the Stansted pair failed early afternoon and was replaced by 317665 on its own. This worked 1610 from LST which was full and standing from Tottenham Hale. Today 317340+337+664 ran as a 12 car on one of the triple 379 rush hour jobs. I've not seen or heard of a 12 car 317 on that route before.

 

[Domk]

Been noticing 379s running on the Hertford East services lately snd tonight saw them running in a pair

 

[Railperf]

At least two 745s on Stansted duty today - 106 is one of them. Where are the displaced 379s being used?

 

[Bikeman78]

At least two 745s on Stansted duty today - 106 is one of them. Where are the displaced 379s being used?

Any of the three routes that 317s work. However, at the moment they are still short of 379s so either class can turn up on any diagram.

 

[Railperf]

Any of the three routes that 317s work. However, at the moment they are still short of 379s so either class can turn up on any diagram.

Yes - a pair of 317s also on a Stansted too.

Any of the three routes that 317s work. However, at the moment they are still short of 379s so either class can turn up on any diagram.

Why short of 379s?

 

[Bikeman78]

Yes - a pair of 317s also on a Stansted too.


Why short of 379s?

See further up the thread. A pair of 379s split apart whilst in passenger service. That was the second time this year. For a few days last week they were only allowed to run solo so it was a 317 bonanza. On Friday there was even a triple 317 to Cambridge. Pairs of 379s resumed on Thursday although 379008+025 failed and spent a few hours in Broxbourne down loop. I expect that each unit is being inspected or modified and then allowed to couple again.

 

[Railperf]

See further up the thread. A pair of 379s split apart whilst in passenger service. That was the second time this year. For a few days last week they were only allowed to run solo so it was a 317 bonanza. On Friday there was even a triple 317 to Cambridge. Pairs of 379s resumed on Thursday although 379008+025 failed and spent a few hours in Broxbourne down loop. I expect that each unit is being inspected or modified and then allowed to couple again.

379 003 and 026 are paired but sitting idle at Bishops Stortford sidings today.

EdIT: And that pairing 003 and 026 ended up on the 1615 Bishops Stortford to Stratford via Lea Bridge!

 

[palmersears]

I know it isn't technically a GA unit anymore, but can I ask why 321448 has appeared at Edge Hill? A photo on Flickr appears to suggest it arrived in the early hours of this morning.

 

[43096]

I know it isn't technically a GA unit anymore, but can I ask why 321448 has appeared at Edge Hill? A photo on Flickr appears to suggest it arrived in the early hours of this morning.

Suggested elsewhere that it is off to Alstom at Widnes, presumably for hydrogen/bionic duckweed conversion.

 

[OTRail]

Suggested elsewhere that it is off to Alstom at Widnes, presumably for hydrogen/bionic duckweed conversion.

Considering it’s one of the few PRM’d 321 units this makes sense.

 

[hwl]

Considering it’s one of the few PRM’d 321 units this makes sense.

It was the prototype Renatus unit and slightly different to the rest of the Renatus units that are potential "Breeze" units so ideal to use for prototype use again

 

[Class 170101]

Did it go on its own or was it dragged there?

 

[D6975]

Went by road.

 

[Wivenswold]

I don't think this has been posted elsewhere but a Greater Anglia video showing off the features of the Class 720s finishes saying they're coming into service this year. Last indication was January 2021 so testing and training must be going well.

Eyes peeled.

 

[Shunter_69]

The current plan is November for Southend.

The rest of the network is next year so makes sense to say that.

 

[LAX54]

We here, are assuming the 720's to start with the new timetable in December, we have been briefed about the ECS moves from Victoria Sidings to Stowmarket via Nch Stn, for 1Y09 and 1Y17. (5Y09 at 0600 and 3Y17 at 0705)

 

[Bikeman78]

The current plan is November for Southend.

The rest of the network is next year so makes sense to say that.

Does anyone know what has been done about the class 317 PRM dispensations? They expired at the beginning of October but there are still plenty of them out in traffic. What's the new deadline?

 

[OTRail]

Does anyone know what has been done about the class 317 PRM dispensations? They expired at the beginning of October but there are still plenty of them out in traffic. What's the new deadline?

Aren’t some of them receiving PRM mods at the moment?

 

[Bikeman78]

Aren’t some of them receiving PRM mods at the moment?

Yes 27 of them have been done to cover 24 diagrams. However, there are still more than 27 diagrams and they frequently cover for 379s and on Stansted Express. The 379s don't seem to have recovered from the coupling fault in August. They are supposed to cover 27 diagrams from 30 units but I am fairly confident that has not happened since August.

 

[86246]

We here, are assuming the 720's to start with the new timetable in December, we have been briefed about the ECS moves from Victoria Sidings to Stowmarket via Nch Stn, for 1Y09 and 1Y17. (5Y09 at 0600 and 3Y17 at 0705)

Thanks, I have just had a quick look at these moves on RTT for Stowmarket on the 14th December.

Realtime Trains - 3Y09 0628 Norwich T.C. to Stowmarket

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains - 3Y17 0747 Norwich to Stowmarket

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Of course, things can change before then.

 

[Alfie1014]

The empties urgently come from Colchester and Parkeston at the moment so some rejigging of the TC diagrams it appears?

 

[LAX54]

Thanks, I have just had a quick look at these moves on RTT for Stowmarket on the 14th December.

Realtime Trains - 3Y09 0628 Norwich T.C. to Stowmarket

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains - 3Y17 0747 Norwich to Stowmarket

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Of course, things can change before then.

5Y09 0600 Norwich Vic to Norwich RFD, which is a little bit wrong, this forms 3Y09 0628 to Stowmarket, and a 0705 Vic to RFD, foirming 3Y17 0747 to Stowmarket

 

[306024]

Looking at RTT, the balancing workings seem to be the 19.10 and 22.00 Liverpool St to Ipswich which both go ECS to Norwich.

 

[Shunter_69]

The 22:00 currently goes ECS to Harwich International so would make sense but they are normally Colchester drivers to and from Stowmarket so will be interesting to see how the new diagrams work.

 

[RailWonderer]

I shot past one of these in a Voyager on the WCML as it was testing. The configuration is completely pre-Covid and it seems it will be overkill in the new era. 2+2 seating mixed in would have been preferable, as would half size bay tables. It is irritating to balance food, drink, a book and something else on your lap or on the other seat. Was anyone even consulted on the spec?

 

[samuelmorris]

I shot past one of these in a Voyager on the WCML as it was testing. The configuration is completely pre-Covid and it seems it will be overkill in the new era. 2+2 seating mixed in would have been preferable, as would half size bay tables. It is irritating to balance food, drink, a book and something else on your lap or on the other seat. Was anyone even consulted on the spec?

3+2 seating was the only way to deliver the number of seats in peak hours specified in the franchise agreement.

 

[Alfie1014]

3+2 seating was the only way to deliver the number of seats in peak hours specified in the franchise agreement.

Which simply reinforces the view that 4 years (probably nearer 5 since the bids went in for GA) for rolling stock introduction and (in the life of a franchise) is a long time! And they say a week in politics is long time!

 

[Shunter_69]

It’s only changed since March. Those seats were needed pre-Covid. I doubt even Nostradamus knew the passenger levels would drop so dramatically.

Post pandemic there will be lots of times when 3+2 is beneficial.

Maybe GA should have ordered 2 complete sets of trains, one with 3+2 for busy times and a second with 2+2 for quieter days.

 

[dk1]

Maybe GA should have ordered 2 complete sets of trains, one with 3+2 for busy times and a second with 2+2 for quieter days.

That's just cheered up my afternoon a little

 

[Shunter_69]

Glad to help