Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[dp21]

That's what I was thinking - so they are having yellow panels then?

Yes, much like this photoshop from earlier in the thread. I think there's official images somewhere of how it'll actually look but it's not far off this.

Like this?

I did it with just the black panel on the front repainted, leaving the red band underneath, but it looked odd to my eye. It looks more like the original render in this way as well, going down to the opening around the coupler.

 

[gsnedders]

So that would be axle load category B. Is even that much weight such a problem in the UK?
In the Netherlands, only a few lines have category C2 as a maximum (20t), and most lines are D4 (22.5t). Category B doesn't even exist anymore here.

Weight isn't much of a problem in terms of route clearance; the difference is that Network Rail's track access charges are in part based on axle loads (and various other things meant to be related to track wear).

 

[hexagon789]

Yes, much like this photoshop from earlier in the thread. I think there's official images somewhere of how it'll actually look but it's not far off this.

That actually looks not half bad!

 

[Domh245]

The grey paint looks like a base coat, after all there should also be plenty of white around the front as well that isn't there yet

 

[dp21]

The grey paint looks like a base coat, after all there should also be plenty of white around the front as well that isn't there yet

Worth noting that the 755s have a different livery to the 745s as hopefully illustrated in the images below as provided by the designers. The driving cars are (in essence) an inverse of each other.

 

[Domh245]

Good point, I'd forgotten about that!

 

[Henry Johnson]

I just had a look at one of the new units on twitter, they don't look half bad actually. When do they enter service after arriving in October?

Also, on passing crown point a few minutes ago I saw the centre carriage of class 170202. It's been there for over two months. Anyone know why it's not being used?

 

[samuelmorris]

I just had a look at one of the new units on twitter, they don't look half bad actually. When do they enter service after arriving in October?

Also, on passing crown point a few minutes ago I saw the centre carriage of class 170202. It's been there for over two months. Anyone know why it's not being used?

I think the current plan is just over a year from now, May/June ish 2019.

 

[TheEdge]

Also, on passing crown point a few minutes ago I saw the centre carriage of class 170202. It's been there for over two months. Anyone know why it's not being used?

It has some sort of issues to which immediate solutions are not forthcoming, so it was best to run 202 round as a 2 car till a solution can be found.

 

[dp21]

I think the current plan is just over a year from now, May/June ish 2019.

It has some sort of issues to which immediate solutions are not forthcoming, so it was best to run 202 round as a 2 car till a solution can be found.

Both of the above are indeed correct. 202's centre car had a failed battery charger. When the new one arrived it got put on another unit instead...

 

[dp21]

For anyone interested, at some point (as yet I don't have a date), the one of the 755s will be headed to Velim for testing (if they can get any time on the test track what with everything else going on!) so someone might be able to grab some footage if they're in the vicinity?

 

[dk1]

Also, on passing crown point a few minutes ago I saw the centre carriage of class 170202. It's been there for over two months. Anyone know why it's not being used?

As dp21 states it was awaiting battery charger unit. A similar fault developed on a driving vehicle for 170201 so obviously had to take priority.

 

[Wivenswold]

For anyone interested, at some point (as yet I don't have a date), the one of the 755s will be headed to Velim for testing (if they can get any time on the test track what with everything else going on!) so someone might be able to grab some footage if they're in the vicinity?

Thanks dp21. I won't be able to go but I will keep a very close eye on social media for images and videos.

 

[backontrack]

Like this?

I did it with just the black panel on the front repainted, leaving the red band underneath, but it looked odd to my eye. It looks more like the original render in this way as well, going down to the opening around the coupler.

That's rather nice, I think. You've done a good job of not making it a simple, white-based livery like Thameslink's (albeit with red doors), by adding in the red and grey variation. I wouldn't mind seeing that 'out in the wild' at all.

 

[Domh245]

That's rather nice, I think. You've done a good job of not making it a simple, white-based livery like Thameslink's (albeit with red doors), by adding in the red and grey variation. I wouldn't mind seeing that 'out in the wild' at all.

I didn't do nuffin guv. All I did was make a the black panel on the front yellow from an image that was floating about. The actual livery design was done by Schoenemann

 

[backontrack]

I didn't do nuffin guv. All I did was make a the black panel on the front yellow from an image that was floating about. The actual livery design was done by Schoenemann

No further questions.

 

[Bringback309s]

With the central doors and semi articulated wheel layout, how will they cope with platform gaps where there are sharp curves - eg Marks Tey and Wivenhoe? I know they won't go to Wivenhoe but they will Marks Tey

 

[Domh245]

If they're like the Merseyrail units, they'll have a retractable step under the doorway that will come out to (mostly) bridge the gap

 

[Bletchleyite]

With the central doors and semi articulated wheel layout, how will they cope with platform gaps where there are sharp curves - eg Marks Tey and Wivenhoe? I know they won't go to Wivenhoe but they will Marks Tey

The doors appear to be offset somewhat (not exactly in the middle), presumably for this reason.

If they're like the Merseyrail units, they'll have a retractable step under the doorway that will come out to (mostly) bridge the gap

Yes, I'd expect so, this is a standard FLIRT thing, I've never seen one without that feature.

 

[dp21]

If they're like the Merseyrail units, they'll have a retractable step under the doorway that will come out to (mostly) bridge the gap

They do indeed have a retractable step. That's why there's no visible permanent step on the outside like most "conventional" units do.

 

[Domh245]

The first 4 car bi-mode is undergoing commissioning in Erlen, delivery expected in October.

Still no yellow panel added yet!

 

[class387]

The first 4 car bi-mode is undergoing commissioning in Erlen, delivery expected in October.

Still no yellow panel added yet!

Looks brilliant!

 

[Wivenswold]

Looks brilliant!

Totally agree, there's some ugly-looking new trains about, in particular the 385 is ugly enough to make bats crash in my opinion, but this looks class.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Totally agree, there's some ugly-looking new trains about, in particular the 385 is ugly enough to make bats crash in my opinion, but this looks class.

It does - a very attractive train (and if you look at the Twitter quoted, there's a photo of inside - bare for now, but very much looks like the rather nice high floor PKP IC FLIRTs so I'd expect similar levels of space).

I expect these to be a step change for rural services. If they are successful in attracting passengers, could we see more, following the German model of good quality dedicated regional branch line stock rather than just rotting cascaded 15x?

 

[hexagon789]

It does - a very attractive train (and if you look at the Twitter quoted, there's a photo of inside - bare for now, but very much looks like the rather nice high floor PKP IC FLIRTs so I'd expect similar levels of space).

I expect these to be a step change for rural services. If they are successful in attracting passengers, could we see more, following the German model of good quality dedicated regional branch line stock rather than just rotting cascaded 15x?

It would be nice to have dedicated regional/rural rolling stock but I think the hand-me-down tradition will be with us a bit longer. It really depends on what stock is cascaded down, if nicely refurbished there are quite a few classes which wouldn't be at all bad for the Anglia rural routes, but I agree that the Flirts look like a very nice upgrade.

 

[rick_suffolk]

Will they be able to couple with class 720 so you could have say 720+755 london to Ipswich and then detach the 755 to go on to Lowestoft?

 

[Domh245]

Perhaps mechanically for rescue purposes, but they almost certainly won't be able to couple in service.

 

[rick_suffolk]

Which perhaps poses the question why on earth not? Surely would have added flexibility given they are both being built at same time albeit different manufacturers

 

[Domh245]

Because manufacturers tend to be protective of their propriety software and systems and so won't share it unless they're being forced to. Evidently GA didn't think that they'd need to and didn't make them. Additionally, they are designed for completely different purposes, the Aventras are high capacity suburban units, with 544 seats crammed into 122m, contrast with a BMU4 (aka 755/4) which seats 220 in 80.7m. Running one of them into Liverpool Street will be wasted capacity (not to mention that running them to London means that you can't then run them on the rural branches for a fixed number of units)

 

[eastdyke]

Because manufacturers tend to be protective of their propriety software and systems and so won't share it unless they're being forced to. Evidently GA didn't think that they'd need to and didn't make them. Additionally, they are designed for completely different purposes, the Aventras are high capacity suburban units, with 544 seats crammed into 122m, contrast with a BMU4 (aka 755/4) which seats 220 in 80.7m. Running one of them into Liverpool Street will be wasted capacity (not to mention that running them to London means that you can't then run them on the rural branches for a fixed number of units)

I understood that GA will ultimately run 4tpd each way Lowestoft-Liverpool St via the East Suffolk in the current franchise.
Have I misunderstood or has that now been scrapped?