The first images of Class 755 bi-mode trains for Greater Anglia have been released.
The completed bodyshells are being painted into GA livery at Stadler’s Bussnang factory in Switzerland.
The shells were manufactured in Hungary by Stadler before being shipped to Bussnang where they are fitted with seats, lighting and other electrical equipment, air conditioning systems, Wi-Fi, plug and USB sockets and large picture windows.
As other vehicles are completed, they will be coupled together to form the trains.
The trains will be used on rural routes from next year, replacing Class 153, ‘156’ and ‘170’diesel multiple units.
GA has 58 trains on order from Stadler. These are split into 20 12-car electric multiple units and 38 BMUs for the rural routes. The BMUs will be split into 14 three-car sets and 24 four-car trains.
The 12-car EMUs will be split between the Stansted Express and Great Eastern Main Line routes, with ten working on each. GA is replacing all its current fleet with new trains, with Bombardier building 665 Class 720 EMU vehicles.
GA Managing Director Jamie Burles said: “We’re very excited about our new trains. When you see photos like this it’s possible to imagine what an amazing change to our customers’ journeys these brand-new trains will make.”
- For full details and much more on this story, read RAIL 846, published on February 14, and available digitally from February 10 on Android and iPad.
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AndrewJGwilt1989 - 29/01/2018 12:10
Class 360’s, Class 321’s, Class 317’s and Class 379’s are also be replaced by the Class 745’s and Class 720’s. Uncertainty on who will inherit the Class 360’s and Class 379’s. Greater Anglia could retain some of the Class 379’s to work on branch line services in Essex such as Wickford-Southminster, Colchester-Walton-on-the-Naze and Manningtree-Harwich Town (formed as 4-Car as normal and 8-Car and 12-Car during peak hour). Except the bay platforms at Wickford might not be extended to accommodate 5-Car trains and Class 379’s could be ideal operating as 4-Car between Wickford and Southminster and 8-Car & 12-Car between Liverpool Street and Southminster during peak rush hour.
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