Greater Anglia Class 755s (Regional Trains)

[Roger B]

That's a point. So have to assume the 755/3s are at Norwich Crown Point or are they somewhere else inaccessible ?. Can only hope a fuller timetable brings them out.

Maybe 755/3s on workings based around Ipswich - eg Cambridge, Felixtowe, and perhaps Norwich via Lowestoft?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Maybe 755/3s on workings based around Ipswich - eg Cambridge, Felixtowe, and perhaps Norwich via Lowestoft?

I have noted a predominance of 755/4s at Norwich (station) or Ipswich so must be somewhere more long distance or not getting to those two stations.

 

[LAX54]

That's a point. So have to assume the 755/3s are at Norwich Crown Point or are they somewhere else inaccessible ?. Can only hope a fuller timetable brings them out.

Was it not the /3's that G.A were having more issues with, than the/4's ?

 

[Grumbler]

Was it not the /3's that G.A were having more issues with, than the/4's ?

Is it not the case that on some branches, the 3s are needed as the 4s are too long?

 

[Shunter_69]

It’s 755/3’s only on the Sudbury branch, I think it’s even a small subset of 3’s due to the system that lets the signaller know where the train is.

 

[wagnaga]

It’s 755/3’s only on the Sudbury branch, I think it’s even a small subset of 3’s due to the system that lets the signaller know where the train is.

Why wouldn't they have that fitted to all /3's? Surely having it on only a small subset adds complications later on?

 

[Jim-s]

Since early feb it has been 755/3 only on the sudbury branch as others have said, the first couple of weeks I only saw unit 335 but as far I can tell it’s also been most of them as I have seen 10 of the 14 on the branch so far,
I’m not there every day so maybe the whole fleet has been on the branch at some point

 

[Shwam3]

All the 3 cars are fitted with TAWS for the Sudbury branch.

 

[Shunter_69]

All the 3 cars are fitted with TAWS for the Sudbury branch.

That’s good, certainly wasn’t the case earlier in the year as I had to do a unit swap as the one originally over there didn’t have it.

 

[Shwam3]

That’s good, certainly wasn’t the case earlier in the year as I had to do a unit swap as the one originally over there didn’t have it.

Maybe don't quote me on that then, all of them will be fitted if not already.

 

[Abbo]

Was it not the /3's that G.A were having more issues with, than the/4's ?

The delicate flowers of Sheringham were complaining about the noise of the 755/3 and a notice to traincrews regarding this has been issued.

Only a possible answer like other suggestions mooted.

 

[TheEdge]

Apart from the Sudburys and certain (pre-Covid) heavily loaded services which are meant to have /4s there is no real preference to what turns up on what.

Remember there are 10 more /4s than /3s and one of those is always at Colchester s it's to be expected you'll see the /4s more.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Are 755 401 and 755 418 still out of traffic for repairs?

 

[TheEdge]

Are 755 401 and 755 418 still out of traffic for repairs?

401 is in service, I drove it yesterday.

I think those are the pair that got bricked/shot at on two consecutive nights at Beccles.

 

[dk1]

401 is in service, I drove it yesterday.

I think those are the pair that got bricked/shot at on two consecutive nights at Beccles.

418 was the fire issue up top last year i think mate. Not turned a wheel in traffic since.

 

[DannyMich2018]

Having my first journey on one of these units. 755335. From Ely to Norwich. Reasonably well loaded. Impressions? Aceleration is out of this world!! Ride is very good too. Plenty of space. Be trying out loo shortly. Seats not perfect and you do tend to slip off but ok generally. Very quiet although we are at the end of train nearly. Found the bin. It's quite small. Cannot understand previous comments about window film as perfect view out window. But boy oh boy the accelation is the best thing about these new trains!! Coat hooks are here too and power sockets easy to find too. Leg room good. In all a pretty much near perfect train.

 

[Railperf]

Aceleration is out of this world!!
But boy oh boy the accelation is the best thing about these new trains!!

You need to try a 4-car on diesel, and then head down to Stowmarket and try either a 3-car or 4-car on Electric. You ain't seen nothing yet!!
The 3-cars (which you are on) on diesel are equivalent to an 8-car HST, maybe slightly quicker at the lower end.

The 4-cars on diesel are as fast as a Class 360 or 379 EMU!!!

On electric you will be be asolutely amazed. They also run on electric from Ely down to Cambridge and Stansted - albeit limited to 75mph with a very short stretch of 90mph.

Whereas Stowmarket to Ipswich you can experience the full acceleration to 100mph! -

 

[DannyMich2018]

You need to try a 4-car on diesel, and then head down to Stowmarket and try either a 3-car or 4-car on Electric. You ain't seen nothing yet!!
The 3-cars (which you are on) on diesel are equivalent to an 8-car HST, maybe slightly quicker at the lower end.

The 4-cars on diesel are as fast as a Class 360 or 379 EMU!!!

On electric you will be be asolutely amazed. They also run on electric from Ely down to Cambridge and Stansted - albeit limited to 75mph with a very short stretch of 90mph.

Whereas Stowmarket to Ipswich you can experience the full acceleration to 100mph! -

Good to know. Sadly we are only going Yarmouth so won't see one in anger on eletric. Took 15.36 Norwich to Yarmouth earlier. Unlike other service was virtually empty. The unit this time was 755402. Acceleration again was rapid although they seem held back by the lower line speed on this stretch.

 

[TheEdge]

Good to know. Sadly we are only going Yarmouth so won't see one in anger on eletric. Took 15.36 Norwich to Yarmouth earlier. Unlike other service was virtually empty. The unit this time was 755402. Acceleration again was rapid although they seem held back by the lower line speed on this stretch.

No, their acceleration is insane along there. A 4 car on diesel will hit 60, do a running brake test, go down to 50 and back up to 60 before Whitlingham Junction. And will easily hit 60 with lots of time to spare going up the hill between Brundall and Lingwood.

 

[RailWonderer]

I can't wait to see a 3 or 4 car 755 on the main line to see what it can do on there. With the ASDO database update it might be possible they intend to run them on the whole GEML instead of terminating at Colchester each time.

 

[DannyMich2018]

No, their acceleration is insane along there. A 4 car on diesel will hit 60, do a running brake test, go down to 50 and back up to 60 before Whitlingham Junction. And will easily hit 60 with lots of time to spare going up the hill between Brundall and Lingwood.

Sorry I didn't mean acceletation I meant they were held back by lower line speed on this section compared to the Norwich-Ely route. It was also great to see them using AC power in Norwich station itself a lot therefore reducing noise and emissions in the station. Passenger are lucky to have such a great train.

 

[Dave1987]

I can't wait to see a 3 or 4 car 755 on the main line to see what it can do on there. With the ASDO database update it might be possible they intend to run them on the whole GEML instead of terminating at Colchester each time.

They already are on the mainline! They run every day on electric between Stowmarket and Ipswich. The acceleration like @Railperf says is insane. 3 car on electric will easily achieve 100mph before Stowmarket neutral section.

 

[Class 170101]

They already are on the mainline! They run every day on electric between Stowmarket and Ipswich. The acceleration like @Railperf says is insane. 3 car on electric will easily achieve 100mph before Stowmarket neutral section.

And between Ipswich and Colchester / Harwich International in electric mode.

 

[dk1]

And between Ipswich and Colchester / Harwich International in electric mode.

As well as Cambridge-Ely. Get the feel of the acceleration but only hit a top speed of 75mph apart from a short spurt of 90 on the down.

 

[RailWonderer]

They already are on the mainline! They run every day on electric between Stowmarket and Ipswich. The acceleration like @Railperf says is insane. 3 car on electric will easily achieve 100mph before Stowmarket neutral section.

I know, I meant I'd like to see them run Colchester - Chelmsford where the line is 100mph and see how early they arrive, and to see non-stop LST - Ipswich on a Sunday with no freights or stoppers in the way. They are insane and even more impressive performances still to be seen.

 

[gingerheid]

Will any timetables be getting changed to reflect the new trains? I feel like a good 8 mins+ could come off Cambridge - Ipswich?

 

[Dave1987]

I know, I meant I'd like to see them run Colchester - Chelmsford where the line is 100mph and see how early they arrive, and to see non-stop LST - Ipswich on a Sunday with no freights or stoppers in the way. They are insane and even more impressive performances still to be seen.

Well Stowmarket to Colchester is mostly 100mph except through Ipswich station and Manningtree. You are highly unlikely to get a non stop run from Lst to Ipswich with no other services or freight in front. The 745’s are only about 15% slower than a 755 and they are arriving everywhere extremely early. But until the outer suburban stock is replaced by 720’s they will continue to wait time everywhere and get stuck behind 321’s. That’s just the GE mainline until the full new fleets are eventually in place and a massive rewrite of the timetable.

 

[dk1]

Will any timetables be getting changed to reflect the new trains? I feel like a good 8 mins+ could come off Cambridge - Ipswich?

From what I gather any changes will take place in December 2021 when hopefully both fleets have been replaced and the timetable recast.

 

[Railperf]

Will any timetables be getting changed to reflect the new trains? I feel like a good 8 mins+ could come off Cambridge - Ipswich?

I'm not sure 8 mins reduction is achievable without an increase in line speed from 75 to 90mph, and improving the 60mph limit between Newmarket and Cambridge to at least 75 or 80mph.
There are definitely a few mins added in for pathing reasons at the Ipswich end - usually resulting in caution signals and a short stand awaiting a path into the platform.

It looks as though the service is timetable that way to ensure a clear path at either end of the line - as it has to interface with two main lines via single lead junctions and crossovers, plus an intermediate junction at Chippenham - which is a freight artery And then at both Ipswich and Cambridge there is the issue of finding a clean path into the appropriate platform.

Usually in both cases the train has to be routed over crossovers onto the down main and then into a platform on the down side of the station.
Ultimately both WA and GEML timetables are planned to be speeded up in due course once the faster accelerating Class 720's are all in service, and once the main line needs are sorted, the job will be how to slot in the regionals I guess.
In the perfect world you would have grade seperation at Haughley junction and grade speration to allow the trains unimeded access to the down side of both Cambridge or Ipswich. Or possibly an additional bay platform on the up side of Cambridge station.
I'm amazed at how busy Cambridge station is - the platform and track layout seems to make routing trains through here more complex and cumbersome.

And it isn't clear at how efficient and dynamic the signalling system is at both Cambridge and Ipswich to reacting to train movements. There are times you are sitting waiting for a path where there do not appear to be any conflicting movements ahead , and platforms are free - especially if the train is slightly early. Maybe automatic route setting to blame here. Seems the computer won't recognise a train is running early and give it the path.

 

[LAX54]

What would make life a lot easier for all, would be trap points at the L/E of P4 at Ipswich, so you can run into P4 in the Up direction, and down into P3 at the same time was looked at when they had the 'Tunnel Block' but was deemed to costly for the actual benefits, so nothing done, I imagine that maybe a regretted decision these days !