Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[rick_suffolk]

Fair enough though on the point about running them into liv st there is a franchise requirement for a couple of direct Lowestoft to liv st trains so in theory they must have planned for then to get there albeit not often?

 

[Bringback309s]

There were 170 operated Peterborough to Liverpool Street services a while back. Would be good to see a service that splits / joins at Ipswich with the Lowestoft so that at least eight carriages fill the path into London

 

[Class 170101]

Don't think there is enough for through Peterborough services.

 

[Domh245]

Good point about the through Lowestoft services, I'd forgotten about those. It'll be interesting to see how they handle those, presumably they'll double them up but as far as I can tell there is no requirement on when they actually arrive into/depart from London, so it may be that they go for 6AM, 11AM, 3PM, and 8PM arrivals into London!

 

[dp21]

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

As I believe has been said above it's because the systems won't talk to each other. I believe in theory it's possible to couple mechanically but not electrically.

Fair enough though on the point about running them into liv st there is a franchise requirement for a couple of direct Lowestoft to liv st trains so in theory they must have planned for then to get there albeit not often?

Yes the idea is that a number will run to Lowestoft (to Ipswich using the wires then continue on diesel) but I'm not sure how many.

There may also be more units that required depending on a number of factors I won't go into here so could be a case of running some interesting diagrams to make the most of their flexibility.

 

[dk1]

Don't think there is enough for through Peterborough services.

The plan is for the Peterborough services to double to hourly with most running through to/from Colchester.

 

[jopsuk]

wibble wibble should have had 120m long units and run as an hourly London-Peterborough & Lowestoft...

 

[LAX54]

Looks can be deceptive though! lol and I have heard that GA will stick with 2ph Norwich London.

 

[chubs]

Looks can be deceptive though! lol and I have heard that GA will stick with 2ph Norwich London.

Are they allowed to give up on their franchise commitments so soon?

 

[LAX54]

Are they allowed to give up on their franchise commitments so soon?

Don't think they have said they wont do it, .... eventually, just not that soon, not that a 20 min service is needed from Norwich really, and one train late would have a big knock on effect

 

[dk1]

Don't think they have said they wont do it, .... eventually, just not that soon, not that a 20 min service is needed from Norwich really, and one train late would have a big knock on effect

It's not planned to be a 20min even interval service.

 

[LAX54]

Jumping on thread think we were always told 3 an hour and the magical Norwich in 90, which I think is now just one train, at what must be silly o clock ?

 

[Class 170101]

Are they allowed to give up on their franchise commitments so soon?

Just because its in the franchise doesn't mean anyone else is bound by it. NR aren't signatory to the contract as far as I know.

 

[dp21]

No plans to do anything other than 3 TPH to Norwich at the moment. 2x745s, 1x720.

 

[hexagon789]

No plans to do anything other than 3 TPH to Norwich at the moment. 2x745s, 1x720.

And that's 2 fast broadly as now and one semi-fast extended from Ipswich?

 

[dk1]

And that's 2 fast broadly as now and one semi-fast extended from Ipswich?

Less calls in the Intercity services. The stopping class 720 will maintain the through link to these.

 

[hexagon789]

Less calls in the Intercity services. The stopping class 720 will maintain the through link to these.

So dropping calls in the InterCitys to get closer to the Norwich in 90 aspiration.

 

[dk1]

So dropping calls in the InterCitys to get closer to the Norwich in 90 aspiration.

That's basically the plan. A couple of 90min services a day but the majority are expected to be around 100-105. There is an aspiration that more fast services will follow in the future but that relies on infrastructure enhancements.

 

[hexagon789]

That's basically the plan. A couple of 90min services a day but the majority are expected to be around 100-105. There is an aspiration that more fast services will follow in the future but that relies on infrastructure enhancements.

Presumably eventually leading to perhaps an increase in linespeed, which the InterCity Flirts may be capable of being upgraded for.

 

[dk1]

Presumably eventually leading to perhaps an increase in linespeed, which the InterCity Flirts may be capable of being upgraded for.

They are 110mph capable but that's a long way off I fear. Still it's going to be an interesting few years on the GEML.

 

[hexagon789]

They are 110mph capable but that's a long way off I fear. Still it's going to be an interesting few years on the GEML.

Definitely, as much as I love HSTs, I'm very jealous of those new Flirts! The people of Anglia are definitely getting a well deserved upgrade.

Hopefully they settle down to give sterling service.

 

[AM9]

... As to the axle weights.

A class 170 has a maximun axles weight of just under 12 tonnes?

The 185 is just over 14 tonnes? this precludes them exploiting sprinter differential speeds.

Will these unit be able to use sprinter differentials with the reduced number of axles. I note the Italian units. whilst obviously being to the larger continental gauge, have 18 tonnes axle loads?

Quote
"Its low axle load of a maximum of 18 tonnes is unique among bimodal regional trains too, according to Stadler, meaning that the the vehicle is also suitable for secondary lines."

To reduce from 18 to 12 tonnes seems a tremendous step for the smaller loading guage?

Can anybody in the know comment please?

The main GE lines are presumably cleared for over 20 tons axle weight as they regaularly accept both class 66, 68, and on the GEML, class 90 haulage. What are the maximum axle loads permissible on the GE branch lines? Or is it merely an issue of a higher track charge?

 

[LAX54]

They are 110mph capable but that's a long way off I fear. Still it's going to be an interesting few years on the GEML.

Until they change or close the crossings between Norwich and Ipswich, then 100mph max is where it will stay, they did the test trips for '90' but that was on a Sunday, no Engineering, less traffic, and a 20+ min layover at Ipswich for pathing ! but the 'run time' was 90

 

[Goldfish62]

It does comply. The actual area of yellow you need is really not very big. Look at the GBRf 66s and the amount of the front which is actually the "correct" yellow.

Unless you can perform the appropriate risk assessments and mitigate any outstanding risks you still have to meet the old criteria. The yellow end standards haven't changed in themselves.

So I wonder what GA haven't done to have to retrospectively add a yellow panel. The 345s seem to be able to operate over a large part of the national rail network (so far Liv St to Southend, GWML, WCML) without a yellow panel. Presumably the headlight specifications are identical.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So I wonder what GA haven't done to have to retrospectively add a yellow panel. The 345s seem to be able to operate over a large part of the national rail network (so far Liv St to Southend, GWML, WCML) without a yellow panel. Presumably the headlight specifications are identical.

The issue is level crossings (including foot crossings with no indication of an oncoming train), of which there are comparatively few on the lines you list.

 

[Loki]

Are both 755 and 745 to have yellow panels?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Are both 755 and 745 to have yellow panels?

I think so yes.

 

[Goldfish62]

The issue is level crossings (including foot crossings with no indication of an oncoming train), of which there are comparatively few on the lines you list.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[dk1]

Until they change or close the crossings between Norwich and Ipswich, then 100mph max is where it will stay, they did the test trips for '90' but that was on a Sunday, no Engineering, less traffic, and a 20+ min layover at Ipswich for pathing ! but the 'run time' was 90

The Ipswich in 60 aspiration confuses me mate. It happens daily now on the 17:00 down 'East Anglian' which usually arrives as on Thursday last week around 17:57

 

[trebor79]

Less calls in the Intercity services. The stopping class 720 will maintain the through link to these.

Urgh. So every other train from Diss will soon be a commuter train with no buffet and no first class. Triffic. Not.
They haven't ordered enough FLIRTs for the GEML.