Overhauled Anglia Class 170/2 back in traffic with more seats

The first refurbished three-car Greater Anglia Class 170/2 entered traffic on April 29.

The diesel multiple unit (170208) has been fitted with more seats and plug points, as part of a £5 million investment into GA’s Class 170 fleet by Porterbrook, which owns the fleet. Arriva Train Care at Crewe is contracted to carry out the work.

The DMU has six extra Standard Class seats, fitted in an area previously housing a redundant storage area in the Motor Standard Lavatory (MSL) vehicle. It has received an internal overhaul, and is now fitted with plug sockets, refurbished seats with new cushions, backs and covers, new carpets, new flooring in the toilets, refurbished heating, refurbished ventilation and air-conditioning systems, new wall panels, repainted vestibules, grab handles and grab rails. It has undergone a deep clean, and received a coat of GA’s new livery (replacing the Breckland Line vinyls that it carried previously).

It is the second refurbished GA Class 170 in traffic, following twocar 170270. Next to be outshopped will be three-car 170201, which ran to Crewe on April 27.

GA will have 170202-208/271273 still to be treated, although 170204 is currently at Brodie’s facility in Kilmarnock. It is undergoing repairs to severe collision damage sustained at Hockham Road (near Thetford) on April 10 last year, when it collided with a tractor.

The Class 170s will be returned to Porterbrook in 2019, as new bi-mode trains built by Stadler are introduced. However, one two-car set will be retained until the end of January 2020 ( RAIL 826).