Greater Anglia Bombardier Aventras (Class 720): Technical discussion and introduction

[robert west]

568 has officially returned home.

Looks like that was a test run to Clacton & back to Ilford. Definetly that must’ve been 505 on the country end of 5Q30+33 on it’s first ever 10 car run.

5q30 and 5q33 running today as well

will take a look at 5q33 as it passes Witham at 1249 to check numbers

 

[Numbskull100]

A visit to the wheel lathe was my only conclusion too. Its been happening for a few weeks now.

A 720 arrives at Ipswich on the Monday from Ilford and returns on the Wednesday:

Realtime Trains | 3Y50 1430 Ilford E.M.U.D. to Ipswich Recp. | 18/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 3Y50 1430 departure from Ilford E.M.U.D. to Ipswich Recp. on 18/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 3V51 1358 Ipswich Recp. to Ilford E.M.U.D. | 20/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 3V51 1358 departure from Ipswich Recp. to Ilford E.M.U.D. on 20/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It is this.

Weekly for the foreseeable.

 

[robert west]

5q30 and 5q33 running today as well

will take a look at 5q33 as it passes Witham at 1249 to check numbers

colchester end unit was 569 london end couldn't id but wasn't clean unit

 

[Covshire1]

The 5Qs are running again today. Possibly our old friend 720505. Will any readers be out for the below to confirm?

5Q07 1353 Harwich Town to London Liverpool Street

Realtime Trains | 5Q07 1353 Harwich Town to London Liverpool Street | 26/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q07 1353 departure from Harwich Town to London Liverpool Street on 26/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[robert west]

The 5Qs are running again today. Possibly our old friend 720505. Will any readers be out for the below to confirm?

5Q07 1353 Harwich Town to London Liverpool Street

Realtime Trains | 5Q07 1353 Harwich Town to London Liverpool Street | 26/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q07 1353 departure from Harwich Town to London Liverpool Street on 26/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

539 london end with 569

 

[laird]

Is there any news on either 720505 or 720585 (perhaps last seen on a passenger service in early July?), any hopes they might reappear to fill in a gap in my log?

 

[720144]

Any clue what’s running 5Q02 to Clacton on test earlier today ?

 

[720_Aventra]

Any clue what’s running 5Q02 to Clacton on test earlier today ?

RTT suggests 123 and 523. They've been reported to be on the 5QXX runs since Monday as well.

 

[Bob85]

Any news on that last 720, 505 I think?

 

[720_Aventra]

Any news on that last 720, 505 I think?

Haven't heard any updates on the unit being accepted into passenger service. I've not seen it on the 5GXX runs in recent weeks on the southend line.

 

[720144]

Any news on that last 720, 505 I think?

Don’t think it’s even been moved out of Ilford in which feels like months ever since it’s been back from Derby. Still waiting for 505 to eventually show up on rtt when the time comes.

Also 568 has gone quiet too hasn’t even re-entered since that’s been back from greatest gathering. Haven’t seen 585 in a while either.

 

[800001]

Don’t think it’s even been moved out of Ilford in which feels like months ever since it’s been back from Derby. Still waiting for 505 to eventually show up on rtt when the time comes.

Also 568 has gone quiet too hasn’t even re-entered since that’s been back from greatest gathering. Haven’t seen 585 in a while either.

720505 was today bought by GA, concluding the order for 720s.

 

[43096]

720505 was today bought by GA, concluding the order for 720s.

That might be new news for Angel...

 

[800001]

That might be new news for Angel...

For GA, by GA, you know what I mean, but thank you for your reply.

 

[720144]

720505 was today bought by GA, concluding the order for 720s.

Happy Days, I thought 505 was already brought when it was delivered to Ilford 2 months ago.

Last but not least, need an exact date for when it’s accepted to go into service.

 

[Covshire1]

720505 in passenger service today.

Currently working 1H89 0745 Cambridge to London Liverpool Street. Go get it chaps!

 

[720144]

720505 in passenger service today.

Currently working 1H89 0745 Cambridge to London Liverpool Street. Go get it chaps!

No way what a surprise, Coupled up to 573.

 

[St. Paddy]

No way what a surprise, Coupled up to 573.

Hardly a surprise really

 

[The_Train]

720505 in passenger service today.

Currently working 1H89 0745 Cambridge to London Liverpool Street. Go get it chaps!

Feels bizarre that something that is 5 years old will be classed as new

But, eh, we got there in the end

 

[Peter Mugridge]

720 505 + 720 573 next working is the 17.20 Liverpool Street to Braintree.

 

[Kite159]

720 505 + 720 573 next working is the 17.20 Liverpool Street to Braintree.

No doubt full of people with red pens riding it between Liverpool Street & Stratford lol

 

[Peter Mugridge]

No doubt full of people with red pens riding it between Liverpool Street & Stratford lol

Well, I use a black pen but yes I'm heading there...

 

[The_Train]

No doubt full of people with red pens riding it between Liverpool Street & Stratford lol

What's the rush, they'll be around for 40 years - wait, no, more like 35 years as 505 has spent 5 years sitting around doing nothing

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Bingo...

 

[87electric]

What's the rush, they'll be around for 40 years - wait, no, more like 35 years as 505 has spent 5 years sitting around doing nothing

And even then some people wait for the last week of service of a units life and miss it. I‘ve listened to many regrets over a pint and natter in the pub over the last one missed. Some folk might not have 35 years left in them.

 

[720144]

Hardly a surprise really

Also on a good diagram today, does Cambridge, Braintree & Southend Vic.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Sep 2025 ==

720 505 + 720 573 next working is the 17.20 Liverpool Street to Braintree.

Now we just need 568 to return back into service after being back from Derby last month.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

And even then some people wait for the last week of service of a units life and miss it. I‘ve listened to many regrets over a pint and natter in the pub over the last one missed. Some folk might not have 35 years left in them.

Well, exactly... and I'm likely to be withdrawn before the current new fleets are...!!

 

[87electric]

Well, exactly... and I'm likely to be withdrawn before the current new fleets are...!!

It’s quite a sobering thought isn’t it.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Yes... anyway, for those chasing 720 505 today it is currently at Ilford coupled to 720 520 and will start work later on the 15.58 Ingatestone to Colchester before doing the 16.52 Colchester to Liverpool Street followed by the 18.16 to Clacton where it remains overnight I in the sidings, not the station itself ).

720 505 should be on the London end of the rake.

Edited to avoid confusion following GA doing what they often do and swapping things between diagrams at short notice!

Revised diagram details in the post below.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Yes... anyway, for those chasing 720 505 today it is currently at Ilford coupled to 720 520 and will start work later on the 15.58 Ingatestone to Colchester before doing the 16.52 Colchester to Liverpool Street followed by the 18.16 to Clacton where it remains overnight I in the sidings, not the station itself ).

720 505 should be on the London end of the rake.

It left Ilford on 5H46, coupled up to 720527. Its next service will be 2H46 17:13 Liverpool Street - Cambridge. After this, it will go on another 5H46 to Cambridge Sidings North