Green light for Greater Anglia’s Class 755/4s

Approval has been granted for the use of Stadler Class 755/4s by Greater Anglia.

The 24 four-car bi-mode trains are currently being delivered to the UK, with testing taking place on various GA routes. It’s expected, but not confirmed, that they could enter traffic by the end of this month (RAIL 880).

The ORR wants certain conditions to be met, which include low-speed validation of lateral forces and that GA’s safety management system is suitable and sufficient to ensure access and egress of passengers in normal operational and degraded modes.

So far, 755405-410/413-418 have been delivered to the UK, along with a three-car set and three 12-car electric Class 745s.

GA will use the Class 755/4s on its rural services - firstly on Norwich-Great Yarmouth, followed by Cambridge. They will initially replace Class 37s and Mk 2s hired from Direct Rail Services, followed by Class 153s leased from Porterbrook and Class 170/2s that will transfer to Transport for Wales. Eventually Class 156s will also be displaced by the new trains.