More Greater Anglia ‘720s’ commissioned but no new arrivals in traffic

Testing and commissioning of Bombardier Class 720 electric multiple units continues, although no new trains have entered passenger traffic in over a month.

The Greater Anglia Aventras, already more than 18 months late, began entering traffic last November. But by February 18 only 11 from the 133-strong order had carried passengers.

Eighty-nine five-car and 22 ten-car trains were ordered by Abellio in August 2016, to replace all suburban EMU fleets on the GA network (Classes 317/321/360/379).

All had been due in traffic by April 2020, but the programme has been heavily delayed (as have all Aventra projects so far), while the order has since been changed to 133 five-car EMUs.

Meanwhile, Class 720s are being moved across the UK as part of their testing process.

The latest departures from Derby Litchurch Lane were 720565/570, which were moved for warm storage at Worksop on February 17.

The previous day, 720514 had arrived back at Derby from Old Dalby, while 720532 returned from Worksop on February 18.

There was a unit swap at Ilford on February 15, with 720553/564 moving to the depot to replace 720549/551, which ran back to Wembley (neither had yet carried passengers).

Meanwhile, 720560 has begun testing on the West Coast Main Line from Wolverton Works - replacing 720519, which was taken to Old Dalby on February 10.

Seven EMUs are currently based at Wolverton for test (720522/542/ 545/546/554/560/562), while five are at Ilford for similar reasons (720550/552/553/558/564).

Three are stabled at Wembley (720547/549/551), while one is currently at Crewe (720522).

On February 18, Old Dalby hosted five of the EMUs (720513/518/519/541/544), while seven were undergoing retrofitting of interiors at Litchurch Lane (720521/527/532-535/555).

This leaves 720511/515/517/536540/543/548/556 available for passenger duties at Ilford and 720504/557/559/561/563/566569/571-573 in construction and testing phases at Litchurch Lane.

Twenty-three ‘720s’ are in warm storage at Harry Needle Railroad Company’s Worksop depot.