The new Abellio East Anglia franchise beginning on October 16 is split into three phases, Abellio Greater Anglia Managing Director Jamie Burles revealed at the East Anglia Rail Summit at Westminster on September 7.
“Phase 1 is preparing, Phase 2 is the new fleet, and Phase 3 is the new railway,” he explained.
This is the first time for a long time that the region has had a long-term deal, he said, noting: “That means conversations can be had that have not been had before.”
- To read more from Burles, read RAIL 810, published on September 28.
- To read more EXCLUSIVE content from the Summit, read RAIL 810, published on September 28.
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Steve Russell - 27/09/2016 08:22
Its a great shame that Burles does'nt properly address growth. REopening lines for example. Brightlingsea to Wivenhoe is desperate for some proper transport infrastructure. One road in, one road out & the worst bus service in the UK. 10000+ pop - commuter, shopper, tourist potential is massive
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Andrewjgwilt1989 - 27/09/2016 23:07
Was wondering if there could be a possible electrification on some rural lines in East Anglia could be beneficial including the Norwich-Cromer & Sheringham, Norwich-Great Yarmouth & Lowestoft, Norwich-Peterborough & Cambridge via Ely, Ipswich-Felixstowe & Lowestoft, Ipswich-Cambridge & Peterborough via Ely rural lines and possibly the Marks Tey-Sudbury line in Essex that could soon be electrified with new EMU trains to be used on those lines and not to mention Cambridge-Haverhill line and March-Wisbech line as well that is to be build and could soon be electrified but new Bi-Mode trains is the option as Stadler is to build the new Bi-Mode trains that can work on both electrified and non-electrified routes for East Anglia. Not to mention Bombardier Aventra trains to be built for West Anglia, Great Eastern and London-Norwich intercity routes.
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Gizzy - 28/09/2016 16:38
The Cambridge to Haverhill line does not exist. The old trackbed is more likely to become a guided busway, rather than a railway. Branches such as the Norwich to Cromer/Yarmouth/Loewstoft would not be economical to electrify. Indeed, why do so if you have bi mode trains as you have quoted? Ipswich to Cambridge/Peterborough could possibly be electrified in the future, but this would be more for the benefit of Felixstowe/Harwich container trains....
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Andrewjgwilt1989 - 30/09/2016 01:59
I do like what you said and I agree with you.
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Daniel Docherty - 29/09/2016 23:42
Changing the franchise's name isn't such a bad idea. In my opinion it's beneficial that some of the rural lines in Norfolk and Suffolk are to be electrified and improve track layouts and increase speed on the lines but in case there isn't enough flirt UK trains for those lines they can use the upgraded class 321 EMUs for lines like Norwich to Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Cromer & Sheringham and Lowestoft to Ipswich. Once the new flirt UK trains come into the east Anglia I think all the class 153s & 156s should be scraped or cascaded but the class 170 turbostars should stay and some can form a 5 & 6 car service by coupling those units together and in the future we can have faster trains. Just giving ideas for Abellio greater Anglia that's all.
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Gizzy - 30/09/2016 13:44
As far as I am aware Daniel, there are no plans to electrify any of the rural lines in Norfolk or Suffolk on routes to Sheringham, Yarmouth and Lowestoft, so they won't be using Class 321 or any other EMU on these services? I can't understand where all this is coming from....
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Daniel Docherty - 30/09/2016 17:18
Okay, if that's the case I don't mean to ask for too much It's just a suggestion
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