C2C class 720 updates

[43055]

Walking along London Road earlier in Derby I noticed a 720 with a pink line on the driving vehicle which goes from the cab to the roof and I think pink doors. So I'm assuming this is one of the first C2C units to be built (well 2 coaches of it).

 

[357]

The first unit is being dragged by loco to East Ham tomorrow.

Realtime Trains | 524T 0725 Derby Litchurch Lane to East Ham E.M.U.D. | 19/04/2022

Real-time train running information for 524T 0725 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to East Ham E.M.U.D. on 19/04/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[theking]

Surprised there hasn't been any photos of them even when I googled I couldn't find one.

 

[fgwrich]

Surprised there hasn't been any photos of them even when I googled I couldn't find one.

I'm more surprised they haven't been out and about on Alstom's 'test track' (the WCML between Crewe and Willesden) or Old Dalby. Presumably they must be confident enough as a run off the Greater Anglia batch, to test them straight on the C2C lines?

 

[JonathanH]

I'm more surprised they haven't been out and about on Alstom's 'test track' (the WCML between Crewe and Willesden) or Old Dalby. Presumably they must be confident enough as a run off the Greater Anglia batch, to test them straight on the C2C lines?

Isn't getting the first unit to East Ham more about letting the depot fitters start to familiarise themselves with the units, rather than putting them out in service? The mainline testing of this unit can be done later.

 

[fgwrich]

Isn't getting the first unut to East Ham more about letting the depot fitters start to familiarise themselves with the units, rather than putting them out in service? The mainline testing of this unit can be done later.

There is that, but surely Alstom would want to at least send them a tested unit that actually can work first? I'm pretty sure when C2C received it's 387s, they were tested on the WCML first.

And it's not as if Alstom have their work cut out in shipping out faulty Aventra's as is already...

 

[DanNCL]

Today’s delivery has not yet left Litchurch Lane. It was supposed to have left at 07:25.

Today’s delivery now cancelled.

 

[43102EMR]

Today’s delivery has not yet left Litchurch Lane. It was supposed to have left at 07:25.

Today’s delivery now cancelled.

It’s on the move, running 2 hours late: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:31828/2022-04-19/detailed

 

[DanNCL]

It’s on the move, running 2 hours late: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:31828/2022-04-19/detailed

How odd, that was showing as cancelled an hour ago!

 

[43102EMR]

How odd, that was showing as cancelled an hour ago!

Yes that was rather strange - after I saw it left Derby on RTT, someone on Twitter showed the movement as cancelled 10 minutes before. Must’ve been some operational issues they subsequently resolved!

 

[YSTrains]

Someone posted it on to YouTube. The livery is completely different to the artists impression.

 

[30A4EVER]

Not my video but thought i'd share.

First c2c Class 720 to be delivered. 47739 dragging 360*** at Harrow & Wealdstone - YouTube

 

[FuzzyDuck]

It passed the Barking RailCam cams a short time ago.

 

[43102EMR]

Someone posted it on to YouTube. The livery is completely different to the artists impression.

Personally, I thought the final version it now wears is better. Also worth noting when I saw it, it had 2+2 seating compared to 3+2 on the GA ones. Already a favourite in my books!

 

[XCTurbostar]

Personally, I thought the final version it now wears is better. Also worth noting when I saw it, it had 2+2 seating compared to 3+2 on the GA ones. Already a favourite in my books!

Yellow front lives on in C2C land

 

[JaJaWa]

Some pictures here too: https://twitter.com/cmpd_date/status/1516407915095207948

Chris Date
@cmpd_date
First Class 720/6 delivery for @c2c_Rail ! @RailOpsGroup 37601 hauls 720602 at Camden Road working 07:25 Derby Litchurch Lane - East Ham EMUD. Twelve @AlstomUK 5-car 'Aventra' units for the Essex Thameside (LTS) Line. @Clinnick1

 

[87015]

Some 357s on the unwanted EMU pile soon then, didn’t expect it to be this year but must be odds on now if one has turned up!

 

[Domh245]

Some 357s on the unwanted EMU pile soon then, didn’t expect it to be this year but must be odds on now if one has turned up!

These 720s were always due to replace the 387s, although these have since (at least mostly, if not all) left. Don't expect the 357s to go anywhere

 

[357]

357s are staying. These will replace 387s plus some additional capacity.

 

[theking]

Bleh yellow fronts

 

[DominicFindlay]

These 720s were always due to replace the 387s, although these have since (at least mostly, if not all) left. Don't expect the 357s to go anywhere

I believe there are 3 387s with GWR with at least one with GWR logos stuck on the side.

I went to see 720602 today at Barking.
I like the pink doors. The interior seating is 2+2 which I think is best for higher capacity but might annoy some people who may expect a seat.

The GA 720s 3+2 is a bit too tight in my opinion, however it was their franchise agreement to have a many seats as possible.

The new unit along with the 37 dragging it went through Barking twice as it had to come from Stratford via Woodgrange Park. Then passed through Barking Plat 7, (it stopped for a brief moment). Got to the Ripple Road Sliding, where the 37 had to run around, and then back towards Barking Plat 8 and then East Ham Depot.



My videos I captured today:

 

[43102EMR]

According to an ROG driver on Twitter, 4 of c2c’s 720s have been built so far - the remaining 3 will be delivered to c2c during the course of this week with testing to commence Sunday.

 

[MrB]

Why have they only ordered 12? Seems to be a rather small fleet.

 

[Snow1964]

Why have they only ordered 12? Seems to be a rather small fleet.

They were to ease overcrowding and allow some of the existing 8 car trains to convert to 12 car by redeploying some peak hour workings. I think there is only 74 units of class 357, but loadings had grown and really needed 80-90 units

At the time of ordering (pre Covid) was severe crowding on some services, partly fixed by the temporary use of some 387s, and this was the permanent solution including bit of capacity growth to work alongside the 20 year old class 357 fleet

These are 24m vehicles, so a 10 car formation is about same length as 12 car class 357


I do not know if they will operate as 2 unit peak hour trains as obviously commuting flows have changed dramatically over last 25 months, there might be more sense in using them as single sets where a 4 car unit is too short, but an 8 car set is bit big.

 

[43102EMR]

Next two deliveries are now pathed on RTT for Thursday and Friday from Litchurch Lane:

Realtime Trains | 560U 0640 Derby Litchurch Lane to East Ham E.M.U.D. | 21/04/2022

Real-time train running information for 560U 0640 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to East Ham E.M.U.D. on 21/04/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 529V 0640 Derby Litchurch Lane to East Ham E.M.U.D. | 22/04/2022

Real-time train running information for 529V 0640 departure from Derby Litchurch Lane to East Ham E.M.U.D. on 22/04/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Dstock7080]

These 720s were always due to replace the 387s, although these have since (at least mostly, if not all) left.

387.005+003+004 running together today with c2c

 

[357]

It's not correct about 2+2 seating throughout, the seating layout is exactly the same as the GA units, including the flip down seats by the doors.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's not correct about 2+2 seating throughout, the seating layout is exactly the same as the GA units, including the flip down seats by the doors.

More abominations hit the rails, then...

Wonder how hard it would be to at least remove the third seat as per Merseyrail units' middle coaches way back when?

 

[357]

More abominations hit the rails, then...

Wonder how hard it would be to at least remove the third seat as per Merseyrail units' middle coaches way back when?

And the flip down seats by the doors too. They will be more hassle than they're worth. I suspect they might be removed before long once handed over to the TOC...

 

[1D54]

Anyone got any idea which units are due to be heading south tomorrow and Friday?