Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[F Great Eastern]

Yes, that is true. The 'mallard' style interiors fitted to HST's prove that point. But the Anglia MKIII's only ever had a few new seat covers fitted. The rest of the interior -lighting etc was almost the same as the day they were built. But then again look at the money being spent on Renatus 321's that will all be displaced once the Aventras finally arrive!

You're talking about the National Express awful refurbishment. Greater anglia gave a much better one.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, that is true. The 'mallard' style interiors fitted to HST's prove that point. But the Anglia MKIII's only ever had a few new seat covers fitted. The rest of the interior -lighting etc was almost the same as the day they were built. But then again look at the money being spent on Renatus 321's that will all be displaced once the Aventras finally arrive!

There's more likely to be a long term mainline use for those than LH Mk3s.

 

[eastdyke]

There's a degree of logic in not shelling out on cosmetic repairs, but it does display a lack of customer focus. And it might be an uphill battle to change the culture once the new stock arrives. That will quickly look tired too if the same attitude prevails.

How so?

Stadler will also be responsible for providing maintenance and servicing of the new trains to be carried out at Crown Point depot in Norwich.

https://www.stadlerrail.com/en/meta...r-signs-largest-uk-order-abellio-east-anglia/

 

[dk1]

Yes, that is true. The 'mallard' style interiors fitted to HST's prove that point. But the Anglia MKIII's only ever had a few new seat covers fitted. The rest of the interior -lighting etc was almost the same as the day they were built. But then again look at the money being spent on Renatus 321's that will all be displaced once the Aventras finally arrive!

All lighting was completely replaced with LED to a different style on GA mk3s at the same time they where provided with plug sockets throughout.

 

[dk1]

You're talking about the National Express awful refurbishment. Greater anglia gave a much better one.

Exactly. Typical NXEA half hearted rubbish. This refurb was to a high spec.

 

[Grumbler]

How many seats will the 12-car intercity have compared to the 8,9 and 10 coach MKIII rakes? Much as I do love the MKIII's the Anglia ones are looking very tired, and too much time is lost through the narrow door entry and exit at each end of the coach, and people having to traverse the long aisle to find a seat. The EMU style configuration - despite appearing a step down - will improve overall customer comfort levels.

I'm rather concerned that these new 12-car trains are to have only five lavatories, about half the number on the current sets.

 

[Clip]

I'm rather concerned that these new 12-car trains are to have only five lavatories, about half the number on the current sets.

To be fair you only need to use one at any point

 

[trebor79]

All lighting was completely replaced with LED to a different style on GA mk3s at the same time they where provided with plug sockets throughout.

I'm not sure about that. I went to London a few weeks back and it was definitely florescent lighting. LED on the way back.

 

[trebor79]

How so?

https://www.stadlerrail.com/en/meta...r-signs-largest-uk-order-abellio-east-anglia/

Stadler may well be responsible for the maintenance, but it's going to be the same guys on the tools TUPEd over isn't it?
It people are used to 3 or 4 years of not worrying about cosmetic stuff then unless the culture is changed the new trains will start to look shabby too.
Last time I travelled there was evidence of wear and tear, such as the carpet dangling off the horizontal board under the luggage rack. There as also evidence of poorly/carelessly completed maintenance work. A bay of seats had clearly been removed and replaced at some recent point, some of the metal trim covering the attachment rail was missing.

Nothing particularly terrible, but if that carries over to the new stock it'll look just as tired.

 

[yorkie]

It's been brought to my attention that some posts in this thread are not on the topic of the new Stadler Flirt trains for Greater Anglia.

If anyone wishes to discuss other trains, such as Aventras, please create a new thread (if there isnt one already) or use an existing thread (e.g. https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...technical-discussion-and-introduction.158396/ )

If someone else goes off topic and you wish to reply to it, please do so in a new thread and alert us to the off topic post. The longer it goes on the harder it is to rectify the matter.

If anyone is able to provide us with a list of post numbers to move, we may be able to move posts, but it is a time consuming matter. It is better if posts are made in the correct forum to begin with.

 

[Alfie1014]

I'm rather concerned that these new 12-car trains are to have only five lavatories, about half the number on the current sets.

Interesting Stadler’s build new Giruno units for SBB which are on 200m long, but have 12 toilets, though three are male only urinals!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Interesting Stadler’s build new Giruno units for SBB which are on 200m long, but have 12 toilets, though three are male only urinals!

As these would be simpler and save water it would seem to make quite a lot of sense to have these (and to have regular toilets in the same coach labelled as female only).

 

[trebor79]

As these would be simpler and save water it would seem to make quite a lot of sense to have these (and to have regular toilets in the same coach labelled as female only).

Which is fine until a bloke needs a number 2!

 

[trebor79]

Plus I'm not convinced urinals on a moving train are a good idea. You only need to look at the floor in any pub or workplace toilet... That problem's going to be much worse on moving train.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Which is fine until a bloke needs a number 2!

I'm not suggesting doing that in all coaches

 

[eastdyke]

Stadler may well be responsible for the maintenance, but it's going to be the same guys on the tools TUPEd over isn't it?
It people are used to 3 or 4 years of not worrying about cosmetic stuff then unless the culture is changed the new trains will start to look shabby too.
Last time I travelled there was evidence of wear and tear, such as the carpet dangling off the horizontal board under the luggage rack. There as also evidence of poorly/carelessly completed maintenance work. A bay of seats had clearly been removed and replaced at some recent point, some of the metal trim covering the attachment rail was missing.

Nothing particularly terrible, but if that carries over to the new stock it'll look just as tired.

Do you honestly think that Stadler, having just broken into the UK Rolling Stock market, will oversee anything but a first class job with maintenance and servicing?
And Abellio won't let it slip either.
You have a very jaundiced view.

 

[trebor79]

Why so sure Abellio won't let standards slip when they already have?
I'm sure Stadler will be very keen to do as good a job as they can. But there will be a culture change required and culture changes take time. It can't be done overnight (not for it to be a sustained and consistent improvement anyway).

I don't think Abellio really care. It's not like people would accept it in any other setting. To use an analogy, hotels undergo periodic refurbishment, but none of the big chains would let a room with curtains hanging off, stained carpets or the TV not working on the grounds that they're doing a refurd in 18 months so it's not worth the expense.

I'm not jaundiced. I like the frequent service to London, I like the current stock and I'm looking forward to the FLIRT. But I know an operation that's been allowed to drift or accept low standards and I know how hard it is to turn around once that culture has set in.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why so sure Abellio won't let standards slip when they already have?
I'm sure Stadler will be very keen to do as good a job as they can. But there will be a culture change required and culture changes take time. It can't be done overnight (not for it to be a sustained and consistent improvement anyway).

I don't think Abellio really care. It's not like people would accept it in any other setting. To use an analogy, hotels undergo periodic refurbishment, but none of the big chains would let a room with curtains hanging off, stained carpets or the TV not working on the grounds that they're doing a refurd in 18 months so it's not worth the expense.

Have you ever stayed in a Travelodge?

 

[eastdyke]

Have you ever stayed in a Travelodge?

I have, most recently Queen Street, Glasgow. It was impeccable, but it was still a Travelodge.
The one before WAS shocking though.

To avoid too much thread drift, there is no point in arguing about what will become very apparent to all during 2019, for which I have full confidence that Stadler/Abellio will be setting a very high standard across GAland.

 

[trebor79]

Indeed. I think they look like fantastic trains.

 

[306024]

A lot of capacity for maintenance is not available at Crown Point just now while the depot is reconfigured for the new Stadler stock. That’s why some MkIII maintenance is done at Bounds Green off peak Monday to Friday and more is being done at Ilford. None of which makes maintaining an ageing fleet on relatively high mileages any easier. Not making excuses, simply stating a fact.

 

[trebor79]

Ah yes, I guess that explains a lot. Saw lots of work going on there recently. Looked like they were removing/relaying some of the sidings as well as stuff inside the buildings.

 

[dp21]

Ah yes, I guess that explains a lot. Saw lots of work going on there recently. Looked like they were removing/relaying some of the sidings as well as stuff inside the buildings.

Disclaimer - rant ahoy

Essentially the whole depot is being rebuilt. 16/17 road have been gutted and are being extended and rebuilt. 14 is being extended to full length, 12 and 13 are being kitted out for the new trains. Entirely new stores and office facilities are going in. Fuelling locations have to be moved, CET has to be put in, the yard has to be reconfigured, old sidings removed and new track laid in the Wensum triangle. Oh and then it all needs to be commissioned.

Needless to say all the change has affected maintenance both practically and operationally. The reinstatement of Colchester to provide additional DMU maintenance capacity should help a little but it's no small job.

Something to keep in mind is that nobody WANTS to put anything that doesn't look acceptable into service however with the fleet so stretched sometimes it's sometimes a case of just ensuring the fleet is provided in a safe state and availability met. Also sometimes things will happen between trips to depot and again with it stretched in such a way it's hard to pull vehicles for relatively small issues like some luggage rack carpet which would then result in a cancellation.

I have every reason to believe that the new units will be kept in better shape but it's anyone's guess how they will be in 20/30 years like the 15Xs/Mk3s when they'll be replaced in turn.

Just my two cents.

 

[physics34]

I'm rather concerned that these new 12-car trains are to have only five lavatories, about half the number on the current sets.

More downgrading of our railway. Less facilities. Very annoying.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have, most recently Queen Street, Glasgow. It was impeccable, but it was still a Travelodge.
The one before WAS shocking though.

Proves my point Some hotels (if you'd call Travelodge that, but they're by no means the only ones) have a decent refurb periodically then let things go to rack and ruin.

 

[Craig2601]

Also, that Travelodge in particular is relatively new so should still be in good condition!

 

[trebor79]

dp21, thank you for the detailed reply. That casts a whole different light on things. So I guess it's a matter of prioritising what MUST be done rather than just letting standards drift. As I mentioned, I see lots of newly refurbished bogies.

The new fleet introduction does sound like a massive logistical challenge!

 

[Alfie1014]

As these would be simpler and save water it would seem to make quite a lot of sense to have these (and to have regular toilets in the same coach labelled as female only).

The Girunos have 3 male urinals, 3 female only toilets, 2 accessible and 4 unisex according to the plans on line.

 

[Grumbler]

To be fair you only need to use one at any point

As long as you can find it quickly enough and there isn't a queue!
BTW in which carriages will they be located? Presumably one for each articulated pair except one?

 

[MikePJ]

I spotted this walkthrough filmed at Innotrans - the "engine room corridor" at 1:05 has a rather marine/industrial aesthetic! I wouldn't be surprised if GA put some large vinyls on those maintenance hatches.