Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[LAX54]

Still thibk those exepcting a more comfy ride and less dwell time at stations will be (maybe) in for a surprise, I am not sure anything will match a Mk3 ? however they will pull away form the station quicker than a 90+10 with your coffee.........lol

 

[samuelmorris]

I think they'll easily bring dwell times down. However, there aren't that many dwells on intercity services so that won't affect journey times too much. As for comfort, it remains to be seen, but I'm quietly optimistic. The lack of buffeting and squealing gangway connectors will go a fair way to improving journey quality.

 

[dk1]

Still thibk those exepcting a more comfy ride and less dwell time at stations will be (maybe) in for a surprise, I am not sure anything will match a Mk3 ? however they will pull away form the station quicker than a 90+10 with your coffee.........lol

Especially in the down direction.

 

[TheEdge]

I think they'll easily bring dwell times down. However, there aren't that many dwells on intercity services so that won't affect journey times too much. As for comfort, it remains to be seen, but I'm quietly optimistic. The lack of buffeting and squealing gangway connectors will go a fair way to improving journey quality.

I think what you are used to will colour your final opinion on these units. I think the vast majority of passengers who are used to the rural fleet will be delighted, gone will be the 153s and their "coyness" and the added space will be welcome. Plus just a nice new environment. I think the leisure users of the mainline will just see a new train and be happy with a loss of slam doors but still being able to get coffee. The normal commuters will probably be fairly happy as well, new environment, quieter and smoother on board and hopefully with no slam doors while dwell times may remain the easy loss of minutes as staff go up and down closing doors will vanish. First class commuters however, well, the Mk3 FO is very comfortable...

 

[samuelmorris]

Fair comment, but First Class provision is something the UK seem to be trying to get rid of. I'm pretty sure I recall comments from Grayling to that effect, it's certainly being downgraded on long-distance services via the 800s, it's being removed entirely in Anglia outside of the Norwich services when 720s replace the existing EMUs, etc.

 

[Meerkat]

Do you reckon the decline of first class is in any way linked to civil servants not being allowed to use it any more?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Do you reckon the decline of first class is in any way linked to civil servants not being allowed to use it any more?

There is a general trend away from allowing it in all organisations. The main reason for this is probably the outrageously expensive markup charged these days.

 

[chubs]

Still thibk those exepcting a more comfy ride and less dwell time at stations will be (maybe) in for a surprise, I am not sure anything will match a Mk3 ? however they will pull away form the station quicker than a 90+10 with your coffee.........lol

Wont dwell times will go down with the lack of slam doors being left open?

As for more comfy ride I'm sure nobody will shed a tear at the loss of the shrieking and squeaking, stuck open vestibule doors, draughts, rattling, bouncing etc. Good riddance.

 

[physics34]

There is a general trend away from allowing it in all organisations. The main reason for this is probably the outrageously expensive markup charged these days.

real shame.... why not have a choice of better, bigger more comfortable seats, more legroom and better facilities for a price. I put it down to overpricing and poor business sense.

 

[Northhighland]

There is a general trend away from allowing it in all organisations. The main reason for this is probably the outrageously expensive markup charged these days.

Private company I worked for would never allow it either. Price is ridiculous.

 

[samuelmorris]

I've never bothered even asking for my business travel, I'm quite content with standard on the routes I use.

 

[Indigo Soup]

Private company I worked for would never allow it either. Price is ridiculous.

First Class has pretty much always been justified by business traffic. Increasing the level of service to make it more 'appealing', and jacking up the price to reflect the perceived quality of service, have had the effect of pricing cost-driven business traffic away.

I can't help but think that the effort put in to First Class freebies at a time when airlines have been scaling them back might have been misplaced.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Might as well do this with burger places too.
Or banks.
Just have the word "BANK" to uniform them all, or "Burgers" to uniform all the bad eating places that sell burgers.

That's a ridiculous comparison on every level. If I'm in Leeds and I fancy a heart-attack in a bun I can choose from the various different outlets. If I decide to get the train to Batley and have a (marginally) healthier curry, it's TPE or nothing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's a ridiculous comparison on every level. If I'm in Leeds and I fancy a heart-attack in a bun I can choose from the various different outlets. If I decide to get the train to Batley and have a (marginally) healthier curry, it's TPE or nothing.

A better example is that my bins are emptied by a lorry with "Milton Keynes Council" on the side. It is not my concern that the Council contract that to Serco (I think).

 

[61653 HTAFC]

A better example is that my bins are emptied by a lorry with "Milton Keynes Council" on the side. It is not my concern that the Council contract that to Serco (I think).

I'd argue that it should be a concern, but that's got nothing to do with the GA Flirts so I'll leave it there!

 

[EssexGonzo]

There is a general trend away from allowing it in all organisations. The main reason for this is probably the outrageously expensive markup charged these days.

Aren't the main reasons that a) more capacity is needed and that 1st class is almost never full and standing and b) that the trade off between relatively fewer 1st fares and filling the train with more standard fares isn't a compelling enough business proposition? Certainly the case with routes like this in and out of London but it's not just a London problem.

Unfortunately, on this crowded island, the days of cheap yet half empty first class carriages are in decline. Furthermore, the railway is a strategic, overcrowded, infrastructure so thankfully someone somewhere has the common sense to understand that the needs of the many trump the needs of the few.

 

[Please Explain]

Cough sorry so 800s used to Penzance won't have a buffet but norwich to london will

Norwich does rather well does it not? Currently enjoying mk3s and not many moons ago didn't Anglia Railways offer award winning catering ?

Absolutely, the GEML has done very well over the years for such a short sector. As I mentioned up-thread, they operated several full restaurant car services each day up until around ten years ago under Anglia, ONE and then NXEA. They were inexpensive and their breakfasts were rather good too, but I guess they didn't make a profit, hence their removal.
As for the 800's on the 5+hour trips to Penzance, yes I agree. Closure by stealth comes to mind..
C'est la vie...

 

[Please Explain]

Aren't the main reasons that a) more capacity is needed and that 1st class is almost never full and standing and b) that the trade off between relatively fewer 1st fares and filling the train with more standard fares isn't a compelling enough business proposition? Certainly the case with routes like this in and out of London but it's not just a London problem.

Unfortunately, on this crowded island, the days of cheap yet half empty first class carriages are in decline. Furthermore, the railway is a strategic, overcrowded, infrastructure so thankfully someone somewhere has the common sense to understand that the needs of the many trump the needs of the few.

Maybe due to the fact that its privatised but regardless it is still possible to legislate a policy of cheaper fares.
This works very well in Belgium, its a cheap "no-frills" service and very popular in the peaks with people traveling to / from work stress free. Its sustainable and well used because there is a national policy of cheap rail travel. People are happy to pay an extra few euro for better leg room and space to work.
No reason why it can't work in UK too.

 

[trebor79]

Restaurants disappeared when the Mk3s came in. They were wonderful, a pot of instant porridge is a poor substitute.

 

[chubs]

real shame.... why not have a choice of better, bigger more comfortable seats, more legroom and better facilities for a price. I put it down to overpricing and poor business sense.

Because nobody actually wants 1st class on the rural routes? I saw one person in it on a Cambridge train once....

On the Intercity route there is demand.

 

[dk1]

Restaurants disappeared when the Mk3s came in. They were wonderful, a pot of instant porridge is a poor substitute.

Not quite. We had MK3 RFMs from the early 90s replacing the MK1 RBRs. The MK3 FOs & TSOs arrived in the mid 2000s & the restaurants lasted until the 2008 stock market crash & recession.

 

[dk1]

Because nobody actually wants 1st class on the rural routes? I saw one person in it on a Cambridge train once....

On the Intercity route there is demand.

Exactly. First on IC Anglia is very well patronised peak & off peak due to some excellent marketing & fares. How it was permitted on 2-car Cambridge trains from 2002 always escaped me. It was purely a staff (particularly management) obsession mainly for themselves in my well observed opinion.

 

[js1000]

They look and sound great but one double leaf door per carriage is a mistake for units that are intended for use on airport express services to/from Stansted.

Manchester Oxford Road & Piccadilly platforms 13/14 has serious problems with dwell times on services to/from Manchester Airport since the new timetable.

Never underestimate the power of the luggage to increase dwell times and generate delays!

 

[Bletchleyite]

They look and sound great but one double leaf door per carriage is a mistake for units that are intended for use on airport express services to/from Stansted.

Manchester Oxford Road & Piccadilly platforms 13/14 has serious problems with dwell times on services to/from Manchester Airport since the new timetable.

Never underestimate the power of the luggage to increase dwell times and generate delays!

There is a massive, massive difference between the two. The Stansted Express runs from Liverpool St to Stansted (calling at various places along the way). It terminates at Stansted and sits there for however long the layover is.

The Manchester Airport trains do not terminate at Picc P13/14 and have a very short dwell time timetabled.

This being the case, the door layout is of no importance on Stansted Express services, as there is plenty of time to load and unload at each end.

 

[Grumbler]

Is this Railway Gazette article on the 755 bi-modes correct?
"... the articulated train has six bogies, the centre four of which are powered."
https://www.railwaygazette.com/news...st-will-change-perception-of-rail-travel.html

 

[100andthirty]

Railway Gazette is usually right but in this case I understand that the electric traction equipment is on the end cars and the traction motors are on the outer end bogies. Only the diesel generators are in the short pod.

 

[hwl]

There is a massive, massive difference between the two. The Stansted Express runs from Liverpool St to Stansted (calling at various places along the way). It terminates at Stansted and sits there for however long the layover is.

The Manchester Airport trains do not terminate at Picc P13/14 and have a very short dwell time timetabled.

This being the case, the door layout is of no importance on Stansted Express services, as there is plenty of time to load and unload at each end.

The Tottenham Hale stop dwell times on the new Stadler units are going to destroy the WAML timetable the situation is even worse than p13/14 at Picc. Huge numbers get on / off the WAML services especially the Stansted Express to change to /from the Victoria line.

 

[43096]

Is this Railway Gazette article on the 755 bi-modes correct?
"... the articulated train has six bogies, the centre four of which are powered."
https://www.railwaygazette.com/news...st-will-change-perception-of-rail-travel.html

They’ve got the meaning completely the wrong way round by the simple mistake of leaving out the word ‘not’.

 

[Set_DRA]

The Tottenham Hale stop dwell times on the new Stadler units are going to destroy the WAML timetable the situation is even worse than p13/14 at Picc. Huge numbers get on / off the WAML services especially the Stansted Express to change to /from the Victoria line.

I can’t wait to be 27mins at TOM. One door per coach.....what were they thinking?!

 

[66103]

Is there any update on the whereabouts of the ones in transit?