First new trains for 61 years as Stadler Class 745/0s start on Norwich to London route
JANUARY 8 was an historic day for Greater Anglia, which put the first Class 745/0 all electric ‘Flirt’ trains into service between Norwich and London Liverpool Street.
They are the first all new trains on the route for 60 years.
Stadler is building 10 12-car sets for the inter city service, and set No. 745007 was used on the 07.40 Norwich-Liverpool Street, working several other services between Norwich and the capital during the day.
The ‘745s’ will replace the Class 90 and Mk3s, which have worked the route since 2004, coming second-hand from the West Coast Main Line, and the intention is to have all 10 sets in traffic by midApril, roughly at the rate of one per week. Passengers will notice the benefit of the train’s 757 seats compared with 614 on the Mk3 sets being replaced.
Like their shorter Class 755 stablemates, the‘745s’have low floors, a café/bar area, retractable steps, free wi-fi, space for six cycles, USB and plug sockets, as well as improved passenger information systems. Two carriages are First Class, however, the lack of a wheelchair space in First has caused anger among passengers with disabilities (see p27).
Ian McConnell, GA’s franchise and programme director, said: “We’re very pleased to have brought one of our new inter-city trains into passenger service.
“Last month was difficult for our customers, as signalling issues on our rural branch lines caused a great deal of disruption and also set back our new trains roll-out.
“We are making every effort to improve our service – and the first longer inter-city train in service with all the facilities customers expected will start to make a difference.”
These sets are part of an order worth £600million for Stadler to supply a total of 378 ‘Flirt’ vehicles to GA. Destined for the Stansted Express service are Class 745/1 sets, technically similar but with no First Class seating and increased luggage space.
GA’s Class 90 fleet has been sold by owner Porterbrook, with
Nos. 90001/2 bought by Locomotive Services and
Nos. 90003-15 by Freightliner, which is likely to use them to replace the 55-year-old Class 86s. Some Mk3s will be bought by LSL, but many are destined for scrap.