Having read this thread, I think GA have done very well out of the stock replacement process. Compare it to EMR’s non-IC situation: replacement stock which is mid-life and unloved from its previous TOCs (GA, I’m looking at you in terms of the 360s and 156/9s!
) and it has taken over 4.5 years to hear that a refurbishment programme has been signed off. And a half-arsed programme at that. The problems that have dogged the Regional operation in particular have been horrific and a world away from GA.
The FLIRTs are very good trains indeed and, echoing a previous post, the 720s are a huge improvement on the stock they replaced. Tables for the Stansted Express are another step up on quality; however I would question whether they are actually needed given that its trains serve as an airport express service. Nevertheless, I suppose that it would be a beneficial thing if the aim is to standardise them as much as possible to the IC 745s.