Greater Anglia Rolling Stock Updates

[Bikeman78]

For GA replacing the best part of 100 non-PRM EMUs (70+ 321 and 30+ 317s) with around 60-70 new Aventras by the due date is probably going to be one huge ask too, anyone fancy a sweep on the number of short forms on day1?

There are 57 class 317s in the GA fleet. Not sure how many of the low numbered 3214xx are staying with GA but there are at least 64 non compliant 321s.

 

[dk1]

There are 57 class 317s in the GA fleet. Not sure how many of the low numbered 3214xx are staying with GA but there are at least 64 non compliant 321s.

Should be none remaining whatsoever.

 

[RailWonderer]

Why anyone would think they would love 379 from an area they run regularly, where all depots sign them, to somewhere they don't really ever go, with crews that don't sign them, for a few months only, because.....? West Anglia deserves decent trains to ya know, not just the precious Anglia passengers
As I see it, the plan is surely going to be straight forward, no legacy stock will be moved from its current areas, simply replaced as new stock comes online. Anything more than that is unnecessary faff.

Deleted

 

[306024]

Erm, because East Anglia has way heavier traffic and Hertford East and Cambridge don't require as many units as the GEML does. People on this forum like to over complicate matters, truth is many train companies move stock around their network easily. South West Trains for example, all the time alternates 450, 444 and 458 etc. 365s are working on Scotrail easily and 170s move around very easily also. Working a 379 probably isn't rocket science.
If the train crews only know how to work a specific type of train, any idea why they keep such a militant segregation? Makes emergency substitutions not possible and causes cancellations.

Oh dear, where to begin. It is absolutely nothing to do with ‘militant segregation’, whatever that actually means.

All drivers have to be competent to drive a particular class of train. That competence includes more that ‘simply’ driving, and it has to be maintained and assessed at appropriate intervals. That assessment doesn’t come free, a lot of driver management time is invested in assessing drivers. There are just 30 class 379s on GA, which is sufficient for 8 Stansted Express diagrams and some Cambridge work. Therefore the West Anglia drivers sign 379s, but it simply isn’t cost effective to train everyone else on the off chance it may come in handy once in a blue moon.

If GA had to train GE depots on 379s they would do so, but with such a huge training programme ahead anyway, any additional training to operate 379s on the GEML is needed like a hole in the head.

 

[GarethC]

Hi, the 153 fleet are going away to Tyseley one by one for WSP mods. Apart from that it's just Day to day stuff. Ironically today was I think one of the only days (they are Monday, Friday & Saturday) that the additional DMU diagrams to Yarmouth have actually run in full.

Thanks for the info. Hopefully the cooler weather will help out with the air con in the 170's cabs - though I saw one get taken out of service the other week at Ipswich with a pigeon stuck in an air vent above the cab! Rather unfortunate cancellation of a Peterborough service!.

Hopefully the WSP will be effective on the Cl153s and should help as we approach autumn.

Gareth

 

[700007]

Just spotted 321448 fly past on 1F 19 this morning (0809 Chelmsford to London Liverpool Street) - I haven't been following this thread religiously but I thought this unit was not coming back into service again?

 

[59CosG95]

Just spotted 321448 fly past on 1F 19 this morning (0809 Chelmsford to London Liverpool Street) - I haven't been following this thread religiously but I thought this unit was not coming back into service again?

It made a surprise return to service (with all its mod cons) on August 31st after a near 2-year absence.

 

[mic505]

Are there still plans to make 27 317's PRM compliant?

 

[dp21]

Are there still plans to make 27 317's PRM compliant?

Yes. Work is ongoing.

 

[mic505]

Deleted.

 

[Wivenswold]

A further update on the plan to convert 321s to Hydrogen operation

https://www.railjournal.com/rolling...sholt-rail-develop-hydrogen-train-for-britain

ALSTOM confirmed on September 11 that it is working with British rolling stock leasing company Eversholt Rail to refit class 321 EMUs with hydrogen tanks and fuel cells for hydrogen operation, in response to the British government’s challenge to eliminate diesel operation on the national network by 2040.

 

[superalbs]

Completed Class 720/5 vehicles seen in Derby Litchurch Lane.

It's a real shame about the yellow, but if they removed that ghastly horn grille, this would be a very nice looking unit indeed.

https://www.facebook.com/Railmagazine/posts/1932752103484269 (No account needed to view.)

Greater Anglia Class 720/5 at Derby Litchurch Lane. Three vehicles from a 5-car set.

 

[332 > 444]

First pic via Twitter of a 720:
(sorry, could not find dedicated thread).

 

[superalbs]

I have made a lot of edits which I think all improve on the actual design, see them below!

Yellow front retained, and horn grille removed.

Replaced yellow front with a red front.

Replaced yellow front with a red front, and removed horn grille.

Replaced yellow front with a white front.

Replaced yellow front with a white front, and horn grille removed.

Replaced yellow front with black front.

Replaced yellow front with black front, and horn grille removed.


Rounded and smoothed version. (Not the best one, I must say.)

 

[samuelmorris]

Do you know what, with a red front I think I actually prefer it with the grille there. The yellow front is a little disappointing but it doesn't actually look too bad on the 720s. I'd be curious to see what a black front minus the grille would look like.

 

[TheDavibob]

Are the 720s reliant on the same awkward software as the 710s?

 

[adrock1976]

I have a quick question here that I would like clarified:

Are 321401 to 405 the five Class 321s that are heading to Scotrail?

 

[43096]

I have a quick question here that I would like clarified:

Are 321401 to 405 the five Class 321s that are heading to Scotrail?

The units for ScotRail are 321401/403/404/418/420 as I understand it.

 

[adrock1976]

The units for ScotRail are 321401/403/404/418/420 as I understand it.

Many thanks.

I only require 401 and 404 for haulage out of that list.

Also, I have seen a post in one of the Scotrail threads that 404 (minus the trailer coach i.e re-classed as a 320) is in service in Scotland.

 

[superalbs]

I'd be curious to see what a black front minus the grille would look like.

Added a few more variants, so check out the original post.

 

[samuelmorris]

Good effort I like the last one (black with no grille) quite a lot actually, though I think the original livery had a red band underneath the black section. Either of the bottom two are good, predominantly because the red outlines flow correctly, as they were presumably originally meant to do when the livery was designed. What we've ended up with certainly isn't the worst of the bunch though.

 

[43096]

Added a few more variants, so check out the original post.

As you are on a roll... what about a black front, but with the red from the side of the windows carried on as a stripe down past the headlights and along the bottom, as a sort of ‘U’ shape round the front end?

 

[superalbs]

As you are on a roll... what about a black front, but with the red from the side of the windows carried on as a stripe down past the headlights and along the bottom, as a sort of ‘U’ shape round the front end?

That's a little more complex, but I gave it a go. Good idea, looks really nice!

 

[59CosG95]

That's a little more complex, but I gave it a go. Good idea, looks really nice!
View attachment 52548

Proper nice that, very reminiscent of the old Pendolino livery. Simple, yet effective.

 

[43096]

That's a little more complex, but I gave it a go. Good idea, looks really nice!
View attachment 52548

Good work! Like that.

 

[samuelmorris]

Yeah, that's possibly the best iteration. Oh well, maybe one day the level crossing issue will be dealt with to such a degree that they can revert to a yellowless livery, who knows.

 

[class387]

Love the red ones - looks like an SBB train.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I have made a lot of edits which I think all improve on the actual design, see them below!

Yellow front retained, and horn grille removed.

Replaced yellow front with a red front.

Replaced yellow front with a red front, and removed horn grille.

Replaced yellow front with a white front.

Replaced yellow front with a white front, and horn grille removed.

Replaced yellow front with black front.

Replaced yellow front with black front, and horn grille removed.

View attachment 52546
Rounded and smoothed version. (Not the best one, I must say.)

The best IMO is the red with grille. Looks kinda swiss.

 

[Defiance149]

I only require 401 and 404 for haulage out of that list. Also, I have seen a post in one of the Scotrail threads that 404 (minus the trailer coach i.e re-classed as a 320) is in service in Scotland.

404 is done and in service in Scotland, 401 should be about complete at Kilmarnock - its TS has already gone to Booths.

 

[nxea321446]

321324 did the usual 5L50 yesterday. It arrived back at Ilford just after 1PM, before returning to Doncaster an hour later on 5E23 taking 321322 for refurb with it. My guess is on arrival back at Ilford, GA wern’t happy with 324 and sent it back.