Greater Anglia reveals mock-up for its Derby-built Aventra commuter trains

A mock-up of the Greater Anglia Class 720 Aventra fleet was unveiled at Derby Litchurch Lane on September 11.

The life-size mock-up was of the interior of the brand-new Bombardier-built trains that will enter traffic from 2019. GA has 89 five-car and 22 ten-car of the electric multiple units due to be delivered.

The replica of a carriage interior of an Aventra shows seating, lighting, a toilet and the general carriage layout.
The trains will run between London Liverpool Street and Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Ipswich.
They will serve key commuter towns along the West Anglia route, including Harlow, Hertford, Bishops Stortford and Cambridge, the Great Eastern Main Line, including Chelmsford, Witham, Braintree, Colchester, Clacton and Harwich, and the line to Southend Victoria. 
They will also supplement the Norwich to Liverpool Street Intercity service with a third train an hour between Norwich and London.
Stakeholders including rail user groups, disability representatives, customer panels, passenger watchdogs, rail unions and representatives from local authorities and business organisations have visited the mock-up to give feedback to GA about the design to inform and shape the final specification.
Over 1,000 other people, mainly GA customers, have also taken part in an online consultation about the design of the rail company’s new trains.
The new trains will all have air conditioning, plug and USB points and free, fast Wi-Fi.

They will also have more seats, with a ten-car train having 1,150 seats. They will have walk-through gangways, and while there is currently no first class facility, GA confirmed that could change.
Overall, Greater Anglia is investing £1.4 billion on 169 new trains, of which £900 million is being spent on the Class 720s.

Mike Kean, GA Deputy Managing Director, said: “We’re very excited about our new trains, as they will transform journeys for everyone. We’ve consulted widely to make sure the trains are suitable for all of our customers and we have received very positive feedback and helpful comments.”
A further 58 trains are being built for Greater Anglia by Stadler, in Switzerland, for Greater Anglia’s Intercity, Stansted Express and regional services.

• RAIL 836, published on September 27, carries a full report from the event