Greater Anglia Rolling Stock Updates

[dk1]

Another Sprinter goes away.

Oh dear. I was hoping it was just for tyre turning.

 

[dk1]

Such luxury

Antimacassers removed so must be one of the sets with declassified FO/FODs slotted into bolster seating capacity.

 

[Railperf]

Meridian Water to Stratford service reported as only a 4-car today. The 720's cannot come quick enough.

 

[86246]

Oh dear. I was hoping it was just for tyre turning.

It hasn’t lost the GA branding and it certainly hasn’t been cleaned externally. Should be back then.

 

[F Great Eastern]

At least two sets of bins out this morning on the Norwich run.

 

[RailWonderer]

The 17:00 Liverpool St - Norwich was/is a 3 car 170 today. Just saw it pass while I was walking nearby. Dk1 was this a last min substitution? Had I known I would've ridden it just to get a rare GEML ride on one before they all go off to Wales.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L71110/2019-10-26/detailed
It also got to Shenfield in under 18 minutes. Even a 360 can never pull that off.

 

[samuelmorris]

The 17:00 Liverpool St - Norwich was/is a 3 car 170 today. Just saw it pass while I was walking nearby. Dk1 was this a last min substitution? Had I known I would've ridden it just to get a rare GEML ride on one before they all go off to Wales.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L71110/2019-10-26/detailed
It also got to Shenfield in under 18 minutes. Even a 360 can never pull that off.

What makes you say that? 360s have considerably better performance than 170s, so if a 170 could do it, so too could a 360. My best from Liverpool Street to Shenfield is 18m48 on a 360, but that includes stopping there!

 

[86246]

The 17:00 Liverpool St - Norwich was/is a 3 car 170 today. Just saw it pass while I was walking nearby. Dk1 was this a last min substitution? Had I known I would've ridden it just to get a rare GEML ride on one before they all go off to Wales.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L71110/2019-10-26/detailed
It also got to Shenfield in under 18 minutes. Even a 360 can never pull that off.

As it is not calling at Colchester and Manningtree I was interested in seeing which time it would arrive at Ipswich. It is not far behind 4L21 though.

 

[RailWonderer]

What makes you say that? 360s have considerably better performance than 170s, so if a 170 could do it, so too could a 360. My best from Liverpool Street to Shenfield is 18m48 on a 360, but that includes stopping there!

I know they do but of all the non stop Liverpool St - Shenfields I've never gotten under 18 1/2 minutes. If it's the 16:32 you're referring to it's because the 16:30 can get held back by the preceding 16:24 Southend so it can lose some time whereas this is a weekend service so clean running helps. That's all I can think of.
Here was the Journecheck update.

 

[LAX54]

As it is not calling at Colchester and Manningtree I was interested in seeing which time it would arrive at Ipswich. It is not far behind 4L21 though.

4L21 was kept running at Colchester, rather than slow it down to run via the GL, 1P46 (1700) ran fast from Liverpool Street to Ipswich, being 2E at Manningtree, Right Time Ipswich, and 3 late into Norwich, looks like the 170 was in for a DVT for the afternoon

 

[F Great Eastern]

Have to say that the 321s that are currently out are a very mixed bag. Was on 321410 this morning, one of those in the First colour scheme and have to say it's probably the best 321 I've been on for ages. Smooth, powerful, fast, good acceleration (for a 321) and spotless inside and everything was in tip top shape, even the displays, announcements and Wifi worked and honestly it looked like this train has been given a lot of TLC.

However, on the 20:38 from Liverpool street tonight, the GA liveried 321 I was on was a heap of junk, rattly, quite slow off the mark, saloon doors swinging backwards and forwards that wouldn't close properly, a window that kept flying open, poor ride and the worst thing was the jolting, where about 10 times there was a feeling of a break for half a second followed by a jolt forward. I know some 321s can be lively, but never seen such behaviour like today.

On the positive side of things the 360s seem to have been tidied up a bit, at least from the one I was on tonight and the driver on the 21:48 from Colchester tonight was an excellent communicator and very honest by saying he didn't know why we got held at two red signals just outside Ipswich but he's sorry for it and hope it hasn't ruined our evening - just the fact the communication lines were open and he was honest and very customer focused reflects well on GA - also helps that the Desiro manual PA is very clear and good quality unlike the MK3s and 321s!

 

[387star]

Greater anglia have way more comfortable trains than other tocs in my opinion

 

[F Great Eastern]

Greater anglia have way more comfortable trains than other tocs even the old ones. No ironing boards

Lots of operators don't have ironing boards, C2C for example, the 357s in 2+2 formation are good.

 

[387star]

Lots of operators don't have ironing boards, C2C for example, the 357s in 2+2 formation are good.

Yeah GTR is the worst offender with all four brands having them

Scotrail and northern have them on various trains but believe they are an improved version

 

[dk1]

The 17:00 Liverpool St - Norwich was/is a 3 car 170 today. Just saw it pass while I was walking nearby. Dk1 was this a last min substitution? Had I known I would've ridden it just to get a rare GEML ride on one before they all go off to Wales.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L71110/2019-10-26/detailed
It also got to Shenfield in under 18 minutes. Even a 360 can never pull that off.

Yes late alteration due to driver not signing class 321s. Never had any problem maintaining 90 or EMU timings with them when we operated them daily the full length of the GEML.

 

[Railperf]

I know they do but of all the non stop Liverpool St - Shenfields I've never gotten under 18 1/2 minutes. If it's the 16:32 you're referring to it's because the 16:30 can get held back by the preceding 16:24 Southend so it can lose some time whereas this is a weekend service so clean running helps. That's all I can think of.
Here was the Journecheck update.

Given a clear run, you can get through Shenfield in 17.5 minutes - we have seen lots of examples of Norwich in 90 services achieving that - particularly the 11:00 out of Liverpool Street.

In general there is a lot of slack on the GEML timetable to try and maximise capacity. Colchester can be passed in 39 minutes very easily with a Class 90 when nothing is in the way - as opposed to a scheduled 41.5 mins - usually hinges on the Braintree service clearing the main line at Witham early so that the Nin90 isn't starting to see yellows approaching Hatfield Peverel.

 

[Railperf]

Yes late alteration due to driver not signing class 321s. Never had any problem maintaining 90 or EMU timings with them when we operated them daily the full length of the GEML.

From my experience - what time they lose due to poorer acceleration they seem to gain with superior brakes. A 170 being 'driven' flat out is a great experience! And they are quite comfy to sit in too - as a recent foray on some Scotrail units recently reminded me.

 

[Railperf]

Yes late alteration due to driver not signing class 321s. Never had any problem maintaining 90 or EMU timings with them when we operated them daily the full length of the GEML.

i don't think i've ever know a 170 to suffer engine failure either. They seem to be one of the most reliable DMU'S ever introduced.

 

[dk1]

In general there is a lot of slack on the GEML timetable to try and maximise capacity. Colchester can be passed in 39 minutes very easily with a Class 90 when nothing is in the way - as opposed to a scheduled 41.5 mins - usually hinges on the Braintree service clearing the main line at Witham early so that the Nin90 isn't starting to see yellows approaching Hatfield Peverel.

Before the linespeed was raised to 90 for LHCS between Maryland & Shenfield around 10ys back it was classed as a good run if Witham was passed down road in 33mins. That was easily achievable with 170s but as you say things are normally thwarted by that darn Braintree service.

 

[dk1]

i don't think i've ever know a 170 to suffer engine failure either. They seem to be one of the most reliable DMU'S ever introduced.

Oh they do & have often had an engine out/revert to idle but you can always limp home. Best if it's the centre car on 201-208 as they are not cross fed so all front/rear illumination is eventually lost.

 

[86246]

Yes late alteration due to driver not signing class 321s. Never had any problem maintaining 90 or EMU timings with them when we operated them daily the full length of the GEML.

I seem to recall when they were new they were on the 17:00 from London and probably split at Ipswich.

Good to see one have a very likely last trip to London. Not such good news for those impacted by the short form but it shows the increase in passenger numbers since they were introduced twenty years ago.

 

[dk1]

I seem to recall when they were new they were on the 17:00 from London and probably split at Ipswich.

Good to see one have a very likely last trip to London. Not such good news for those impacted by the short form but it shows the increase in passenger numbers since they were introduced twenty years ago.

Hard to believe that the 15:00 ex-Liv St operated as a single unit & went through to Yarmouth. Remember the 50 car was also all 1st class with just the two standard class seats at the disabled area & the centre (56) car had a conductors office & buffet counter eating up even more seating capacity. The following very busy 15:30 was booked for a double unit.

 

[Railperf]

Before the linespeed was raised to 90 for LHCS between Maryland & Shenfield around 10ys back it was classed as a good run if Witham was passed down road in 33mins. That was easily achievable with 170s but as you say things are normally thwarted by that darn Braintree service.

Norwich in 90's are getting to Witham in the booked 32.5 min - usually having slowed for adverse signals. The one clear run i have seen - cleared Witham in a smidgeon under 31 mins!! Of course the next issue becomes the xx:48 departure from Ipswich usually running wrong line through Ipswich tunnel and not clearing the main line - so a well driven Nin90 - is usually seeing yellows on the approach to Ipswich! Otherwise 52 mins would be achievable! 53:45 is the best I have seen. Still impressive though!

 

[Railperf]

Oh they do & have often had an engine out/revert to idle but you can always limp home. Best if it's the centre car on 201-208 as they are not cross fed so all front/rear illumination is eventually lost.

I'm glad i haven't experienced that then!

 

[Railperf]

Hard to believe that the 15:00 ex-Liv St operated as a single unit & went through to Yarmouth. Remember the 50 car was also all 1st class with just the two standard class seats at the disabled area & the centre (56) car had a conductors office & buffet counter eating up even more seating capacity. The following very busy 15:30 was booked for a double unit.

I could never understand the logic in running 3-car 170's up and down the main line. Really needed to be 6-car minimum. They were usually well filled.

 

[dk1]

I could never understand the logic in running 3-car 170's up and down the main line. Really needed to be 6-car minimum. They were usually well filled.

It was so Anglia could honour the half-hourly franchise commitment (had been started a year or so earlier from Ipswich using 317s hired in off peak from WAGN) and run through services to Lowestoft via the East Suffolk & Yarmouth.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Given a clear run, you can get through Shenfield in 17.5 minutes - we have seen lots of examples of Norwich in 90 services achieving that - particularly the 11:00 out of Liverpool Street.

Can do quicker than that!

21:00 Liverpool Street to Colchester Town last night was a 360, did it in 17.5 minutes.

That train generally hovers around the 17-18 minute mark, I'm on it fairly often and I've seen it show 17 1/4 on RTT before.

 

[RailWonderer]

21:00 Liverpool Street to Colchester Town last night was a 360, did it in 17.5 minutes.

Can you find the RTT for that one? I’ve never known a 360 to be that quick, even though they are capable.

 

[F Great Eastern]

The 21:00 and 22:00 from Liverpool Street do it on a regular basis on a Saturday.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L71260/2019-10-26/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L71260/2019-10-12/detailed

Was 360102 last night, seemed to be at the top of it's game.

 

[RailWonderer]

Amazing timings.