Greater Anglia’s first 12-car Stadler electric multiple unit (EMU) arrived at Norwich Crown Point on February 28, for testing and commissioning.
The Class 745/1 (745104) is the first of 20 Class 745s to be delivered to the UK from Switzerland. GA has ten ‘745/0s’ on order for its Norwich-London Liverpool Street route and ten ‘745/1s’ for its Stansted Express operations.
The first four Class 745s to be delivered will be Stansted units, followed by all ten ‘745/0s’ for the Great Eastern Main Line. The latter will be replacing Class 90-hauled Mk 3 sets that must be withdrawn by the end of the year because they do not meet accessibility standards being introduced from January 1 2020.
The Class 745/1s are replacing pairs of four-car Class 379s dating from 2011. Unlike the GE sets, they do not have First Class or a cafe-car, but are fitted with plug and USB sockets, air-conditioning, and fast, free WiFi as well as improved passenger information screens.
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For the FULL story, read RAIL 874, published on March 13, and available digitally on Android, iPad and Kindle from March 9.
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AndrewJG8918 - 28/02/2019 21:02
Perhaps Stadler could build few more extra Class 745s to boost the capacity. But 20 12-Car Class 745 EMU Flirt will help transform the way these new trains will be operated on in the East of England. 10 Class 745/0 for London Liverpool St-Norwich “Mainline” service to replace the Class 90 Mk3 stocks. And 10 Class 745/1 for London Liverpool St-Stansted Airport “Stansted Express” service. Perhaps Stadler might also bring out the 8-Car Class 745 to be operated on Liverpool St-Southend Victoria, Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea, Ipswich and Liverpool St-Hertford East, Cambridge & Cambridge North. With Class 720 5-Car and 10-Car Aventra and Class 755 3-Car & 4-Car Bi-Mode Flirt which will also replace the ageing trains and introduce more available seats at rush hour times. But looking forward to actually seeing these brand new trains in service that the East of England needs.
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AndrewJG8918 - 01/03/2019 01:16
Sad that the Class 170's, Class 360's and Class 379's which are to be replaced. Class 170's would end up going to KeliosAmey Wales (TfW Rail). Whilst the Class 360 and Class 379 EMUs would probably end up being sent to be stored. Which I think other train operators might take advantage or interest in having the Siemens Class 360 Desiro and/or Bombardier Class 379 Electrostar. Heathrow Express could inherit the Class 379s and to modify them to be used on London Paddington-Heathrow Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 rather than modifying the 12 Class 387s that GWR are still using the Class 387s. And West Midlands Trains or TfW Rail could inherit the Class 360's and use them on suburban lines in the Birmingham area or on Cardiff suburban services and Cardiff-Swansea service if the electrification on the GWML to Swansea does get given the go ahead.
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