Could Class 357's be Eliminated?

[Dave91131]

There will be a total of 145 5-car class 720 units, once all are built.

Could this large fleet of units be used to operate all services on both the GE (Norwich excluded) and the LTS out of Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street respectively, thereby eliminating the class 357's?

I suspect a number of services on the GE would have to become a single unit vice a pair to allow this, similarly I suspect all but the busiest LTS services would have to be a single unit too.

But, purely in terms of number of train sets available (145) and lease dates and agreements not withstanding, could this be a path that the UK railway wrecking ball (the DfT) look to head down?

Discuss.

 

[JonathanH]

There are 74 357s, which mainly form 8-car trains.

It is suggested that Greater Anglia have 20 spare 720s, and we know that c2c has 12 units. Therefore, a possible fleet of 32 720s for c2c.

That is going to leave them somewhat short of capacity. I can't see the DfT going for this, even if you consider that there is a wrecking ball mentality.

I note you suggest that Greater Anglia cope with fewer 720s. They would probably struggle to provide capacity, although there must be some services where 5-car isn't enough, but 10-car is too much capacity.

32 720s and 30 321s might be enough for c2c, but it seem easier to bin off one of the two 357 fleets and keep the other if that kind of plan was to be put in place.

 

[43096]

There are 74 357s, which mainly form 8-car trains.

It is suggested that Greater Anglia have 20 spare 720s, and we know that c2c has 12 units. Therefore, a possible fleet of 32 720s for c2c.

That is going to leave them somewhat short of capacity. I can't see the DfT going for this, even if you consider that there is a wrecking ball mentality.

I note you suggest that Greater Anglia cope with fewer 720s. They would probably struggle to provide capacity, although there must be some services where 5-car isn't enough, but 10-car is too much capacity.

32 720s and 30 321s might be enough for c2c, but it seem easier to bin off one of the two 357 fleets and keep the other if that kind of plan was to be put in place.

In any case the 357s are on lease until November 2029, so it’s all rather a moot point.

 

[Essex Express]

There was a plan for Greater Anglia to take over the c2c services so merge the two together. The old Anglia region there are not enough class 720 to cover all the c2c but a plan was for the class 379 to go back on the Stansted Express to release the 10 class 745 Stansted Express units back on the GE with the 10 Norwich sets to release some of the class 720 to c2c services. So this kept all the Stadler units on the GE side and closer to Norwich depot. with Ilford and East ham have all the class 720 and the class 379. This also meant that the class 755 would not have to be used on the Norwich London services as there would be enough class 745 for the Norwich services and could be used on the Harwich, Walton branch lines services again realising class 720 to c2c.

Class 379 - Stansted Express
Class 720 - All c2c, Hertford East, Cambridge, Southend, Braintree, plus the remaining GE services towards Colchester / Clacton not covered by the Class 745 units.
Class 745 - Norwich Intercity, Ipswich starters to London some Clacton.
Class 755 - Norwich rural services, Ipswich rural services, Sudbury, Harwich and the Walton Shuttles.