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Post by snowman on Sept 21, 2018 16:34:28 GMT
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Post by routew15 on Sept 22, 2018 12:19:55 GMT
Based on their power I really do hope these units are being ordered for the Midland Main Line Franchise.
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Post by wivenswold on Sept 23, 2018 18:10:12 GMT
The Aventras have a yellow panel due to the amount of passenger crossings in rural East Anglia, Network Rail's attempts to shut a number of crossings have been met with considerable local opposition, so this is a compromise.
An interesting omission from all of the press reports is the fact that Aventra introduction into service has been delayed by around 6-7 months leaving a 4 month window in which to replace around 100 non-compliant Class 317 and 321s. I'll get the popcorn and find a comfy chair for that one! While there's been no official announcement it's likely the Renatus 321s, 360s and 379s will be retained with GA throughout 2020. A personal opinion but with so many other Franchise promises dropped or deferred already, I can see GA retaining some of the above until the end of the franchise. There has, for example, been considerable internal debate over whether they should repaint the 360s into their corporate colours, that's still unresolved.
It looks like Sheringham and Sudbury branches will keep their 156s for longer than intended due to required infrastructure improvements that are still in the planning stage with Network Rail (I'm told). Harwich Depot may not happen due to a veto by the owner of the land (Port of Harwich).
I think that brings us up-to-date.
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Post by snoggle on Sept 23, 2018 18:43:33 GMT
The Aventras have a yellow panel due to the amount of passenger crossings in rural East Anglia, Network Rail's attempts to shut a number of crossings have been met with considerable local opposition, so this is a compromise. An interesting omission from all of the press reports is the fact that Aventra introduction into service has been delayed by around 6-7 months leaving a 4 month window in which to replace around 100 non-compliant Class 317 and 321s. I'll get the popcorn and find a comfy chair for that one! While there's been no official announcement it's likely the Renatus 321s, 360s and 379s will be retained with GA throughout 2020. A personal opinion but with so many other Franchise promises dropped or deferred already, I can see GA retaining some of the above until the end of the franchise. There has, for example, been considerable internal debate over whether they should repaint the 360s into their corporate colours, that's still unresolved. It looks like Sheringham and Sudbury branches will keep their 156s for longer than intended due to required infrastructure improvements that are still in the planning stage with Network Rail (I'm told). Harwich Depot may not happen due to a veto by the owner of the land (Port of Harwich). I think that brings us up-to-date. So, in short, another franchise disaster and mass breach of franchise commitments is due. What a (potential) mess. How on earth do franchisees, their funders and the DfT get themselves into these situations time and time again? It's just mismanagement or simply deliberate to create a good headline but then everyone knows it'll all be renegotiated later. The money that is wasted on all of this.
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Post by kbuses on Nov 8, 2018 0:21:24 GMT
The Aventras have a yellow panel due to the amount of passenger crossings in rural East Anglia, Network Rail's attempts to shut a number of crossings have been met with considerable local opposition, so this is a compromise. An interesting omission from all of the press reports is the fact that Aventra introduction into service has been delayed by around 6-7 months leaving a 4 month window in which to replace around 100 non-compliant Class 317 and 321s. I'll get the popcorn and find a comfy chair for that one! While there's been no official announcement it's likely the Renatus 321s, 360s and 379s will be retained with GA throughout 2020. A personal opinion but with so many other Franchise promises dropped or deferred already, I can see GA retaining some of the above until the end of the franchise. There has, for example, been considerable internal debate over whether they should repaint the 360s into their corporate colours, that's still unresolved. It looks like Sheringham and Sudbury branches will keep their 156s for longer than intended due to required infrastructure improvements that are still in the planning stage with Network Rail (I'm told). Harwich Depot may not happen due to a veto by the owner of the land (Port of Harwich). I think that brings us up-to-date. latest rumours circulating on WA are that due to NR refusing to extend platforms and resite signals/DOO cameras on Lea Valley and Hertford branch stations the Hertford East services will only be upgraded to 379 operations.
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Post by snoggle on Nov 8, 2018 16:05:46 GMT
latest rumours circulating on WA are that due to NR refusing to extend platforms and resite signals/DOO cameras on Lea Valley and Hertford branch stations the Hertford East services will only be upgraded to 379 operations. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. How entirely predictable. I assume NR are "refusing" because no one has provided money for them to do the work.
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Post by kbuses on Nov 14, 2018 17:25:58 GMT
Notified by internal coms the first of the new Stadler bi-mode units (BMU4s) will be arriving at Norwich Crown Point depot tomorrow morning (Thurs 15th). Booked down road to pass Ilford 05.52 Gidea Park 06.01 Shenfield 06.14 Chelmsford 06.24 Witham 06.34 Marks Tay 06.49 Colchester 06.55 Manningtree 07.03 Ipswich arrive 07.17 depart 07.20 Stowmarket 07.45 Diss 07.57 Norwich Crown Point depot arrive 08.23 .
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Post by wivenswold on Jan 23, 2019 10:52:47 GMT
Still radio silence on the introduction timetable for the Class 720 Aventras. The original blurb had them entering service in February 2019, more recently March 2019 on the Southend Victoria line and April on the Cambridge line. More recently than that they've said "Autumn 2019" and now "late 2019. Presumably they've extended the lease on the non-Renatus 321s and are now seeking derogations for their continued service into 2020. Otherwise things could get interesting. As present it doesn't appear that a single 720 has left the factory.
4 (at last check) Class 755/4s are being tested at the moment, 3 from Norwich Crown Point and 1 is based at Cambridge. Driver training is still a way off I understand but the aim is to introduce them in May between Liverpool Street and Norwich. A Class 745/1 (Airport version) is due to arrive at Norwich CP in Feburary.
In terms of retaining a "legacy fleet", I think the 379s are most likely as they're a Bombardier product and can be serviced at their facility at Ilford Depot. A knock on though will be siding space, it was already looking problematic with longer units, now they've also got to factor in berths for 30x379s and there's no room left.
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Post by snowman on Jan 28, 2019 10:53:46 GMT
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Post by joefrombow on Jan 28, 2019 18:27:08 GMT
The common sense thing to do would be to have a year extension as the fact the 710s and even the 345s are not ready I don't think we will see a 720 for a while yet and that's if the software is the same as the other stock or could be more bugs , on top of that no Network Rail upgrade work has begun to accommodate the new stock in sidings and bay platform extensions etc it's going to be an interesting year ..
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Post by snowman on Feb 28, 2019 11:33:06 GMT
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Post by snowman on Apr 5, 2019 5:02:53 GMT
Now reported to be 6 of the bi-mode Stadler Flirt class 755 at Norwich as 2 more arrived yesterday via channel tunnel
Due to enter service from May onwards, with final unit by end of 2019
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Post by zebedee104 on Apr 5, 2019 15:48:12 GMT
Still radio silence on the introduction timetable for the Class 720 Aventras. The original blurb had them entering service in February 2019, more recently March 2019 on the Southend Victoria line and April on the Cambridge line. More recently than that they've said "Autumn 2019" and now "late 2019. Presumably they've extended the lease on the non-Renatus 321s and are now seeking derogations for their continued service into 2020. Otherwise things could get interesting. As present it doesn't appear that a single 720 has left the factory. But why is this a surprise? Surely until the 710s are fixed, the 720s are in exactly the same boat.
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Post by snowman on Jun 12, 2019 18:12:09 GMT
Photo of a 5 car class 720 Aventra at Old Daley test track
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2019 17:21:04 GMT
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