Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[720144]

Today the 10.00 formed of 3 x 755 held up A late running freight let out of Colchester in front of 1P18. And looks like the crossing at Stowmarket was slow to close too on that run. There seems no sense in sending out the freight first. That made 2 trains late!. The Norwich woukd have kept time if it had been let through first. Lost lots of time following all the way to Ipswich.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2024 ==

The 12:32 Norwich to Liverpool Street is 11-car but incorrcectly shown on RTT as a 4-car.

The 12:32 will still be formed of the same 11 coaches, they don’t bother changing it over for a single 4 car unless a random train fault occurs for a 745 like last week. Might be a glitch.

Realtime Trains | 1P37 1232 Norwich to London Liverpool Street | 05/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 1P37 1232 departure from Norwich to London Liverpool Street on 05/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Railperf]

Out of Interest, are the 755's restricted any power draw from the OLE when coupled as a triple unit - either automatically or drivers being asked to use a lower percentage of power when moving off?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2024 ==

Freight stuck behind 2F36 in Colchester P1 which was early with its slack schedule of excessive SRTs and engineering allowance...

Well the freight was due out at 1031 before the the Colchester service even arrived. So either the freight was not ready to start or the signaller / luminate cleared the early Colchester service through? But why would the signaller do that knowing he is risking creating a delay?

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

The 12:32 will still be formed of the same 11 coaches, they don’t bother changing it over for a single 4 car unless a random train fault occurs for a 745 like last week. Might be a glitch.

Realtime Trains | 1P37 1232 Norwich to London Liverpool Street | 05/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 1P37 1232 departure from Norwich to London Liverpool Street on 05/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It says 11 coaches now

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2024 ==

Out of Interest, are the 755's restricted any power draw from the OLE when coupled as a triple unit - either automatically or drivers being asked to use a lower percentage of power when moving off?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2024 ==


Well the freight was due out at 1031 before the the Colchester service even arrived. So either the freight was not ready to start or the signaller / luminate cleared the early Colchester service through? But why would the signaller do that knowing he is risking creating a delay?

I think dk1 said before that the train works that out itself

 

[800301]

Out of Interest, are the 755's restricted any power draw from the OLE when coupled as a triple unit - either automatically or drivers being asked to use a lower percentage of power when moving off?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2024 ==


Well the freight was due out at 1031 before the the Colchester service even arrived. So either the freight was not ready to start or the signaller / luminate cleared the early Colchester service through? But why would the signaller do that knowing he is risking creating a delay?

The delay is down to the signaller, not releasing that 4L66 was late as it was not in ARS, by the time it was noticed, 2F30 was already in P1

 

[Railperf]

The delay is down to the signaller, not releasing that 4L66 was late as it was not in ARS, by the time it was noticed, 2F30 was already in P1

But then it still doesn't explain why the signaller then stuck the freight in front of a class 1 express. Why not wait until 1P18 was through? There was nothing due immediately behind it to stop the freight going out.

 

[dk1]

It says 11 coaches now

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2024 ==


I think dk1 said before that the train works that out itself

Yes it takes what it needs. Nobody has ever told me how much power I should take, not that I’d listen anyway

 

[Bald Rick]

But then it still doesn't explain why the signaller then stuck the freight in front of a class 1 express. Why not wait until 1P18 was through? There was nothing due immediately behind it to stop the freight going out.

Siggys have lots to do, especially on Colchester workstation, and occasionally make decisions which, in retrospect, were not perfect.

 

[Railperf]

Siggys have lots to do, especually 9n Colchester workstation, and occasionally make decisions which, in retrospect, were not perfect.

Would the freight driver not have been contacting the box if his signal had not cleared as planned?

 

[800301]

Would the freight driver not have been contacting the box if his signal had not cleared as planned?

They did and questioned their departure time, I guess as mentioned above the signaller had other things to deal with

 

[Railperf]

So does that suggest the box is understaffed? It must have been an exceptional incident for the staff to be so distracted. Why was ARS not able to signal the freight out.

 

[306024]

In deciding whether to run the freight or not, there were 5 other trains between Ipswich and Derby Road alone that were in the mix. All on bits of single line. Get that bit of railway wrong and the delays could easily be far greater than that to the Norwich train.

 

[Railperf]

In deciding whether to run the freight or not, there were 5 other trains between Ipswich and Derby Road alone that were in the mix. All on bits of single line. Get that bit of railway wrong and the delays could easily be far greater than that to the Norwich train.

Oh. That's interesting. RTT only seemed to indicate that there were some freight cancellations, and the trains that did run along the Felixstowe branch seemed to do so on time and even early. SO I am a bit confused.
So it sounds line more capacity is needed (doubling) to absorb freight issues / delays/ cancellations.
Has the freightliner depot absorbed sidings that could have been used as a buffer for incoming/outgoing trains.

 

[720144]

Yes it takes what it needs. Nobody has ever told me how much power I should take, not that I’d listen anyway

Yes they don’t bother changing it around for a single 4 car to do the 2nd run of the day to London & back. It makes sense to keep the same train on running all day.

I’m surprised they have the 3 car unit in the middle instead of leading on the London end. Instead both 4s are at front & rear. There must be a short distance with the middle & front pant, a bit unusual to see that happen.

Realtime Trains | 5P32 1714 Norwich to Norwich | 06/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5P32 1714 departure from Norwich to Norwich on 06/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5P38 1721 Norwich to Norwich C.Pt. T.&R.S.M.D | 06/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5P38 1721 departure from Norwich to Norwich C.Pt. T.&R.S.M.D on 06/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1P38 1500 London Liverpool Street to Norwich | 06/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 1P38 1500 departure from London Liverpool Street to Norwich on 06/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[dk1]

Yes they don’t bother changing it around for a single 4 car to do the 2nd run of the day to London & back. It makes sense to keep the same train on running all day.

I’m surprised they have the 3 car unit in the middle instead of leading on the London end. Instead both 4s are at front & rear. There must be a short distance with the middle & front pant, a bit unusual to see that happen.

Realtime Trains | 5P32 1714 Norwich to Norwich | 06/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5P32 1714 departure from Norwich to Norwich on 06/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5P38 1721 Norwich to Norwich C.Pt. T.&R.S.M.D | 06/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5P38 1721 departure from Norwich to Norwich C.Pt. T.&R.S.M.D on 06/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1P38 1500 London Liverpool Street to Norwich | 06/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 1P38 1500 departure from London Liverpool Street to Norwich on 06/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The units automatically set which pans to raise at least 80m apart and will select diesel on a unit if less than that. Very rare that happens however.

 

[Class 170101]

So it sounds line more capacity is needed (doubling) to absorb freight issues / delays/ cancellations.

Some of the Felixstowe route has been doubled already

 

[Railperf]

The units automatically set which pans to raise at least 80m apart and will select diesel on a unit if less than that. Very rare that happens however

Surely there is enough time - and there is a triangular track formation to allow the formation to be formed to prevent that unless a last minute unit change has to be made and it happens to be the wrong way round to run on leccy? I would imagine control try to keep a certain amount of units with pans at various ends based on the diagrams they wish to form.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Surely there is enough time - and there is a triangular track formation to allow the formation to be formed to prevent that unless a last minute unit change has to be made and it happens to be the wrong way round to run on leccy? I would imagine control try to keep a certain amount of units with pans at various ends based on the diagrams they wish to form.

755/4s have 2 pans and they can turn units around quite easily

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2024 ==

Also I think the units turn around quite a bit (Ipswich - Lowestoft - Norwich)

 

[dk1]

Some of the Felixstowe route has been doubled already

Works very well too. They did a decent job with that.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2024 ==

Surely there is enough time - and there is a triangular track formation to allow the formation to be formed to prevent that unless a last minute unit change has to be made and it happens to be the wrong way round to run on leccy? I would imagine control try to keep a certain amount of units with pans at various ends based on the diagrams they wish to form.

It’s just alll incorporated into the software.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2024 ==

Also I think the units turn around quite a bit (Ipswich - Lowestoft - Norwich)

They do. Back on the day there was a ridiculous plan to keep 1st class at the London end. It lasted less than a week

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

They do. Back on the day there was a ridiculous plan to keep 1st class at the London end. It lasted less than a week

Looking at journey check I see that most trains are the right way. Also I saw on opentraintimes a train that left Norwich, went into the Trowse (?) siding, went down the Wensum Curve and reversed again back to Norwich in the about 45 mins they lay over there. So it looks like they do turn them around sometimes

 

[Bald Rick]

Why was ARS not able to signal the freight out.

IIRC Colchester doesnt have ARS…

 

[dk1]

Looking at journey check I see that most trains are the right way. Also I saw on opentraintimes a train that left Norwich, went into the Trowse (?) siding, went down the Wensum Curve and reversed again back to Norwich in the about 45 mins they lay over there. So it looks like they do turn them around sometimes

NVS. Are you sure it was the same train?

 

[720144]

Works very well too. They did a decent job with that.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2024 ==


It’s just alll incorporated into the software.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2024 ==



They do. Back on the day there was a ridiculous plan to keep 1st class at the London end. It lasted less than a week

I know, only 10 745/0s have first class the best upgrade your going to get for the rest of the fleet running an intercity Norwich service on a 745/1 & triple 755 is a table at every seat with the comfy standard class seating & an at seat catering trolly service. At this point you’re better off removing first class & the cafe bar off all the 745/0s for flexibility on the whole Anglia network precisely.

Looking at journey check I see that most trains are the right way. Also I saw on opentraintimes a train that left Norwich, went into the Trowse (?) siding, went down the Wensum Curve and reversed again back to Norwich in the about 45 mins they lay over there. So it looks like they do turn them around sometimes

Yes that’s happened quite a bit this year when you get the reverse formation either they reverse at crown point & vic sidings or possibly at Stansaid junction. When drivers switch cabs on the 745/s I’ve noticed the rear pants always switch around to the other end.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

NVS. Are you sure it was the same train?

I think so. It said 'turn' on the signalling map and realtimetrains had the same unit number. Journey check said it wouldn't be running in reverse anymore

 

[Railperf]

Surprised to see the ACPO board on the up main after passing Trowse Jn. I would have thought everything starting from Norwich or CP would already be on electric.
Also is it my imagination or have there been a few new banner repeaters installed lately either side of Ipswich?

 

[dk1]

Surprised to see the ACPO board on the up main after passing Trowse Jn. I would have thought everything starting from Norwich or CP would already be on electric.
Also is it my imagination or have there been a few new banner repeaters installed lately either side of Ipswich?

755s leaving much of Norwich Low Level or from platform 6 would be on diesel. They are not allowed to stop as they exit or at Trowse Bridge to raise so do it in this area since it was introduced a couple of years ago.

No new banner repeaters.

 

[Railperf]

755s leaving much of Norwich Low Level or from platform 6 would be on diesel. They are not allowed to stop as they exit or at Trowse Bridge to raise so do it in this area since it was introduced a couple of years ago.

No new banner repeaters.

Thanks for the info, i guess it keeps things moving and probably prevents risk of an issue if the unit stopped and then couldn't get started again at that busy location.

 

[dk1]

Thanks for the info, i guess it keeps things moving and probably prevents risk of an issue if the unit stopped and then couldn't get started again at that busy location.

Until those locations got introduced we had to go on diesel all the way to Ipswich as stopping to raise pan was not permitted incase of causing delays to other services.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Aug 2024 ==

No shunting in the Norwich station or Crown Point areas is permitted on electric either.

 

[Railperf]

Until those locations got introduced we had to go on diesel all the way to Ipswich as stopping to raise pan was not permitted incase of causing delays to other services.

Yes, that makes sense. What a waste of diesel fuel that would have been. I wonder how many litres of diesel that consumed? DO you get any indication?
It's strange to see how many 755's are sitting around in the day. It's an embarrasment of riches. Even a couple of sets stabled at Ipswich despite 3 units being used on an Intercity diagram. Is there still talk of doubling Trowse bridge? Looks like movement on Gypsy lane now too. Goodness me it has taken years to sort that one!

 

[dk1]

Yes, that makes sense. What a waste of diesel fuel that would have been. I wonder how many litres of diesel that consumed? DO you get any indication?
It's strange to see how many 755's are sitting around in the day. It's an embarrasment of riches. Even a couple of sets stabled at Ipswich despite 3 units being used on an Intercity diagram. Is there still talk of doubling Trowse bridge? Looks like movement on Gypsy lane now too. Goodness me it has taken years to sort that one!

Yes 13 years now for Gypsy. No more news with Trowse Bridge and doubt there will be for many years now. Yes we do get an indication of diesel litres used on passenger workings but it’s not something I pay much attention to.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Aug 2024 ==

Apart from the Thunderbird 755 (not always enough units for that) there’s usually one ready for swapping another unit over later and for fuelling at Colchester.

 

[LowLevel]

Could have a proper splurge and reintroduce the Summer Saturday Yarmouths - cheaper fares on a standard class only train with a triple unit through from Liverpool St, could be popular, no faff bolting on a 47 at Norwich either