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GEML franchise 2016

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Alfie1014

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Just number crunching here. The new fleet gives an increase of 8 trains and loads of extra carriages for the Regional area

But it doesn't seem like much of an increase on Great Eastern and West Anglia. Currently 764 cars including Stansted Express in the EMU fleet of 191 units. Replaced by 785.

Okay some of those will be the longer coaches in the 10 car Bombardiers but some of those will also have to support the Norwich service as 10 Stadlers into 15 IC formations with an increased headway doesn't go.

Can't help but think that some off peaks will be cut from 8 to 5 cars.

It just doesn't seem like the huge extra capacity increase that it seemed at first.

I don't think it's quite a simple as that, if we exclude the Stansted Express which is like for like replacement the remaining EMUs look something like this;

Existing EMU cars 644 = 161 4 cars = 53.66 12 car trains
New EMU cars = 665 = 133 5 car (equiv) = 66.5 10 car trains

On the assumption (and yes we need to wait for the details of how the new trains will be configured) that a 10 car trains will be the equivilent to an existing 12 car train, there should be around 12 additional long trains for the franchise to operate.

Secondly with just one fleet of trains (of 5 and 10 car formation) of a modern design availablity should be better than the disperate mix of 317s, 321s and 360s. Even if availability is only 2.5% better than today an additional 3 units should be available in the peaks.

My view is that the 10 cars could be used on Southend, Braintree and Hertford East services as PIXC busters, all standard class high density, whereas the 5 cars would have first and a slightly better level of comfort for the longer distance services but that's just my opinion.

Lastly if the new depot (at Manningtree or should that be Brantham really) is for the Stadler trains, the bi-modes could take over some of the quieter EMU services such as the Harwich branch and Colchester - Walton locals if this is the case another 4 x 5 car Aventras would be freed up for London services. This would also avoid any platform lenghtening at the smaller stations only served by the local services.

All this is speculation and time will tell what actually happens, but it's going to be an interesting few years come what may.
 
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Wivenswold

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Thanks Alfie1014. You're absolutely right about it being an interesting few years.

I hadn't thought about the Manningtree Stadler base. They will certainly operate the Colchester Town to Sudbury service. Which may result in a complete change to Colchester- Walton services too. Who knows, the Walton could even become a proper branch service with two per hour to Clacton instead.

So many possibilities while there's so little detail.
 
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Adrian1980uk

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It seems to me that intercity standard service to Norwich may only be on 1 or Max 2 trains per hour and the other will be suburban emu, as I think I read it will go to 3 trains an hour somewhere. Maybe getting us used to it being a commuter route rather than intercity.
 

LAX54

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It seems to me that intercity standard service to Norwich may only be on 1 or Max 2 trains per hour and the other will be suburban emu, as I think I read it will go to 3 trains an hour somewhere. Maybe getting us used to it being a commuter route rather than intercity.

I don't think there are enough IC sets to cover all of the proposed Norwich to London services, so some will have to be the surburban variety, but I think the days of Norwich being an Inter-City route are numbered as such.
As for Norwich in 90, they say two in each direction, I assume it will be one at 0400 and one at 2200 :lol: calling at one intermediate station at the most !
 

dk1

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Better than now with at least two trains per hour of INTERCITY standard and accelerated with the suburban EMUs covering the 3rd train. With 10 sets you'll only need 9 in traffic to cover with 30-35 minute turnaround times. Cannot see any issues with that.
 

Wivenswold

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So I guess that would need another 4-5 of the long Aventras to cover duties on the mainline. Leaving (hopefully) the remaining 18ish for GEML Ipswich/Clacton/Colchester/Southend Vic peaks that are currently 3 x 321 or 360. The rest of GEML peaks getting an upgrade from 8 to 10 cars.

Off-peak I assume they'll operate Norwich services and many will sit in Orient Way awaiting the evening rush.
 
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47421

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I also am very interested to see full info on the planned West Anglia timetable.

The 10 August DfT press release says as below.

9 trains an hour off peak from Stortford and Harlow T - I am wondering whether that means all Stan Exp will stop at both stations?

9 from Stortford plus 3 from Hertford East means 12 trains an hour Brox to Cheshunt at least. Is that practical with the current infrastructure or will that only happen after infrastructure improvements?

Anyone know when we can expect to be able to see the full franchise agreement and the new timetables?


"2 additional fast trains per hour off-peak: 1 train serving Bishops Stortford and 1 train serving Cambridge
Harlow Town and Bishops Stortford receive 9 trains per hour off peak
3 trains per hour between Liverpool Street and Hertford East (currently 2 trains per hour)"
 

LAX54

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With the additional problem of the freight trains on that line, which these days are too long to use any of the passing spots.

Infrastructure upgrades are needed before you can sort the timetables out properly.

We were told more Freight to go via Haughley and Peterboro, it needs more use, far more use of Ipswich Chord, its mainly used by DBC and GBRf at the moment, with a few Freightliners going that way,
 

MrPIC

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Does anyone know whether it'll still be called Abellio Greater Anglia? I heard a rumour it might go back to being just Greater Anglia.
 

jopsuk

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I wonder if they'll save any full rebranding until the new stock is introduced?
 
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Given the amount invested in rebranding to Abellio Greater Anglia not just on stock but around the stations I'd be surprised if it changed. It's not as if AGA has a toxic reputation as NX did.
 

LAX54

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Given the amount invested in rebranding to Abellio Greater Anglia not just on stock but around the stations I'd be surprised if it changed. It's not as if AGA has a toxic reputation as NX did.

With all the new stock AGA will be cooking on gas ! :lol:
 

dk1

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The GREATER bit is defiantly going & not before time. What an awful word for a company that is.
 

EssexCommuter

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Given the amount invested in rebranding to Abellio Greater Anglia not just on stock but around the stations I'd be surprised if it changed. It's not as if AGA has a toxic reputation as NX did.

Imo it will change. They wasted money changing from GA to AGA for no good reason other than to get Abellio in the name, which they could have done from the beginning. I don't know if it is compulsory that the company name must change upon a new franchise being awarded, even if the incumbent remains, but Abellio Greater Anglia Limited is to cease trading, and a company was renamed Abellio East Anglia Limited last year, with a recent officer change. This is according to Companies House.

Whilst I welcome the new investment, and I appreciate that there is nothing 'greater' about them and their Anglia routes have reduced, another rebrand is ridiculous. I hope they restrict it only to the new trains, but I doubt it.
 

swt_passenger

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The public facing name doesn't have to change when an incumbent renews, even if the operating company name has to. So if they do change the branding AFAICS it will be voluntarily.
 

J-2739

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Whilst I welcome the new investment, and I appreciate that there is nothing 'greater' about them and their Anglia routes have reduced, another rebrand is ridiculous. I hope they restrict it only to the new trains, but I doubt it.

Rebranding only for a few fleets is bound to cause confusion amongst the generic public. Ok, the two names are not that different, but you never know with some people...
 

transmanche

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The public facing name doesn't have to change when an incumbent renews, even if the operating company name has to. So if they do change the branding AFAICS it will be voluntarily.
Although if they don't change the name, they will bear the cost of removing/covering the AGA branding at the end of their franchise.
 

EssexCommuter

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Rebranding only for a few fleets is bound to cause confusion amongst the generic public. Ok, the two names are not that different, but you never know with some people...

They've done it before, they'll do it again. It's not so much about the cost of repainting as they said they had done it as part of maintenance, but the logo also changed and they swore blind the redesign hadn't cost them a penny...
 

HH

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There's no painting involved. They're easily removed and applied vinyls. It's literally done overnight. Still a cost involved and still a waste of money printing the new vinyls IMO. It's pretty much zero cost to remove them though.
 

klewer

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Wonder if they'll do a "c2c" and hold back any rebrand until the new stock is delivered?
 

glbotu

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They could use different branding to help with route differentiation, thus providing a helpful shortcut for passengers wondering which train to get, but I guess that sounds far too sensible.

Abellio East Anglia (London - Norwich and Branches)
Abellio West Anglia (London - Cambridge and Branches)
Abellio Regional (The Branches across the Fens)
 

HH

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DfT must have watched that then - hence the £20m for Southern!
 
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