Potential uses for GA Aventra 720s

[wls1]

Is 5/720 appropriate for many LTS services? We would again run into the issue of 5 cars being too short and 10 being too much. 160 metres does seem to be a sweet spot for many services in the London / SE area now.

Would begin to run an issue with Loop line services, Grays P3 can only fit 8/357 and this would mean a reduction on capacity on Grays - Fenchurch via Ockendon peak services, of which these are standing from Chafford and full by Upminster/Barking. Would also run into issues at Shoeburyness with 2/3 platforms fitting more than 8 carriages, again meaning reductions for 8 carriage services down to 5

 

[RUK]

Seeing how older fleets are struggling with availability due to spares availability towards the end of their lives, isn’t it good to have more units spare, since availability of the fleet and spare parts will go down at the end of this fleet’s life as well? More trains available means more trains can be broken down for spares to keep the rest of the fleet going, at the end of its life.

 

[rmHawk765]

Seeing how older fleets are struggling with availability due to spares availability towards the end of their lives, isn’t it good to have more units spare, since availability of the fleet and spare parts will go down at the end of this fleet’s life as well? More trains available means more trains can be broken down for spares to keep the rest of the fleet going, at the end of its life.

As I mentioned upthread, it certainly doesn't hurt GA's great reliability record that the 720s probably face very little downtime overall.

 

[TheWalrus]

Do Greater Anglia still have some 720s spare? I was told last year some were going onto the Stansted Express as there aren’t enough 745s!

 

[RUK]

By the time the Class 720s reach their end of life in decades’ time, passenger numbers might have recovered and the extra services which they were intended for might be needed and implemented, so they might be needed on Anglia anyway.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

The plan is that 1st class will be retrofitted to all 745/1s but no cafe bar. I don’t have the timescale however.

It seems an opportunity fix a larger problem (but the money isn't there) once and for all, get Stadler to quote for the retrofit of Stansted Express units to IC standard fit plus 5 more ordered to get 1 harmonised fleet that actually covers both diagrams and removes a lot of operational headaches

 

[dk1]

It seems an opportunity fix a larger problem (but the money isn't there) once and for all, get Stadler to quote for the retrofit of Stansted Express units to IC standard fit plus 5 more ordered to get 1 harmonised fleet that actually covers both diagrams and removes a lot of operational headaches

I think the best we can expect is 14 extra cars to make all 38 regional units 755/4. Still hopefully of 2st class in the 745/1s. Time will tell.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

I think the best we can expect is 14 extra cars to make all 38 regional units 755/4. Still hopefully of 2st class in the 745/1s. Time will tell.

Sadly I agree

 

[dk1]

Sadly I agree

Sorry I meant 1st class in the 755/1s. Fat flipping fingers lol.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I think the best we can expect is 14 extra cars to make all 38 regional units 755/4.

Isn't that impossible because of the Sudbury branch? The branch platform is only 50m at Marks Tey, and 52m at Sudbury.
They don't look impossible to extend but if it was that easy surely they'd have done it originally.

And without additional 745s making them all 755/4s would make the triple 755 diagram too long.

 

[dk1]

Isn't that impossible because of the Sudbury branch? The branch platform is only 50m at Marks Tey, and 52m at Sudbury.
They don't look impossible to extend but if it was that easy surely they'd have done it originally.

And without additional 745s making them all 755/4s would make the triple 755 diagram too long.

That it would and the 745s would take over all Norwich workings disbanding the triple traction & 720 airport substitutes. Something would then be done about the Sudbury branch. All obviously still very much speculation.

 

[Magdalia]

Do Greater Anglia still have some 720s spare? I was told last year some were going onto the Stansted Express as there aren’t enough 745s!

This discussion has a link to the Greater Anglia May 2026 unit diagrams:

Current Monday diagrams for the 755s

Does anyone know where I can find these please?

www.railforums.co.uk

One of the nine Stansted Express cycles is covered by a pair of class 720s SX, see Ilford 305 and 306 diagrams.

23 class 720 diagrams are "DO NOT USE - spare unit". These are Ilford 807-829 diagrams, booked to stand at various locations.

 

[Instinct04]

In fact ideally I would like to see the whole service between Cambridge and Liverpool Street as 10 cars, all day bar the extremities, 7 days a week. No more paths, no more drivers, but a lot more capacity.

I travel on this line all the time. The Cambridge off peak Cambridge services do not need any more capacity than is currently provided.

I am a regular commuter of Tottenham Hale station again as of a 7 years now. Not revealing my location however..

The busiest trains northbound at that station are the quater hourly stansteds and the half hourly Hertford trains, particularly the XX:51 trains.

The Cambridge trains have moderate loads waiting at Tottenham Hale, not all seats are taken, as is the XX:09 bishops Stortford service. However the XX:39 stortfords are some of the quietest trains I have seen outside of the rush hour periods.

 

[Royston Vasey]

I travel on this line all the time. The Cambridge off peak Cambridge services do not need any more capacity than is currently provided.

I am a regular commuter of Tottenham Hale station again as of a 7 years now. Not revealing my location however..

The busiest trains northbound at that station are the quater hourly stansteds and the half hourly Hertford trains, particularly the XX:51 trains.

The Cambridge trains have moderate loads waiting at Tottenham Hale, not all seats are taken, as is the XX:09 bishops Stortford service. However the XX:39 stortfords are some of the quietest trains I have seen outside of the rush hour periods.

Since very little marshalling occurs at Cambridge and none at Liverpool Street, a 5 car is locked in as such for several hours and even if you don't see it rammed on one leg, it may be on the next, or the one after that, or after that.

Without knowing what time and direction you travel I can't agree or disagree with your experiences, particularly if you commute counter-peak, i.e. against the main flow. But travelling into London in the morning and out in the afternoon or evening (both peak and off-peak), I have never found 5 car to be ample capacity south of Bishops Stortford in the daytime, ever since they were introduced. And with 2+3 seating, a full 720 is extremely uncomfortable.

The Stratford to Stortford doesn't need to be 10-car. Nobody suggested that.

 

[martin2345uk]

If they really do have spare 720s does anyone know why the crush loaded 0825 Chelmsford to London is always only 5 coaches

 

[pokemonsuper9]

If they really do have spare 720s does anyone know why the crush loaded 0825 Chelmsford to London is always only 5 coaches

Looks like it forms from the previous evening's London - Harwich boat train, half forms the 1A19 0703 Harwich Town to London Liverpool Street, which picks up an extra 5 at Colchester (then being the 08:15 from Chelmsford), as the other half runs empty to Witham and forms 1F21 0814 Witham to London Liverpool Street (the 08:25 from Chelmsford).

So to strengthen it would require finding a way to get another unit up there, else you'd have to cancel at least one of the trains that are formed by the split.

 

[Magdalia]

Since very little marshalling occurs at Cambridge and none at Liverpool Street, a 5 car is locked in as such for several hours and even if you don't see it rammed on one leg, it may be on the next, or the one after that, or after that.

There is remarshalling at both Cambridge and Liverpool Street. All of the peak hour weekday 10 car stopping trains involve splits and joins.

2H07 0618 Cambridge North-Liverpool Street splits at Cambridge North after working 1454 from Liverpool Street.

2H09 0638 Cambridge North-Liverpool Street splits at Liverpool Street after working 1010 Cambridge North-Liverpool Street

2H11 0718 Cambridge-Liverpool Street splits at Cambridge North after working 0854 from Liverpool Street.

2H48/2H50 1723/1753 Liverpool Street-Cambridge both join at Liverpool Street.

2H01/2H03/2H05 0448/0518/0545 Cambridge-Liverpool Street all start as single units because of lack of siding space at Cambridge.

I travel on this line all the time. The Cambridge off peak Cambridge services do not need any more capacity than is currently provided.

From my experience of weekday travel I'd agree, but stories I've heard from others suggest that 10 car trains at weekends are needed, and Cambridge does have the trains to deliver that because the units that work the peak hour faster trains are spare.

 

[Royston Vasey]

There is remarshalling at both Cambridge and Liverpool Street. All of the peak hour weekday 10 car stopping trains involve splits and joins.

2H07 0618 Cambridge North-Liverpool Street splits at Cambridge North after working 1454 from Liverpool Street.

2H09 0638 Cambridge North-Liverpool Street splits at Liverpool Street after working 1010 Cambridge North-Liverpool Street

2H11 0718 Cambridge-Liverpool Street splits at Cambridge North after working 0854 from Liverpool Street.

2H48/2H50 1723/1753 Liverpool Street-Cambridge both join at Liverpool Street.

2H01/2H03/2H05 0448/0518/0545 Cambridge-Liverpool Street all start as single units because of lack of siding space at Cambridge.


From my experience of weekday travel I'd agree, but stories I've heard from others suggest that 10 car trains at weekends are needed, and Cambridge does have the trains to deliver that because the units that work the peak hour faster trains are spare.

I don't consider that very much remarshalling!

Fair point on the Liv Street joiner though. Are there others? The majority turn around in quick time and head back north as-is.

 

[rmHawk765]

23 class 720 diagrams are "DO NOT USE - spare unit". These are Ilford 807-829 diagrams, booked to stand at various locations.

Are these all the supposed unused units being discussed here?