Greater Anglia Bombardier Aventras (Class 720): Technical discussion and introduction

[Class360/1]

And maybe some cow bells to alert the watchers!

Sigh! Perhaps Alstom will offer cow catchers as an optional extra for the Aventura platform

Back on topic have any photos of the damage been released yet?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

And maybe some cow bells to alert the watchers!

Back on topic have any photos of the damage been released yet?

Bit soon for that!!

The evacuation has only just started. I've started a thread in the main news area to keep this one clear.

 

[Wivenswold]

1st in class 501 is on mileage runs on the WCML after its quality control visit to Alstom.
533 was delivered to Wembley last week, not sure if it made it across to GA metals.

 

[St. Paddy]

720107 delivered to Wembley earlier today by 47749

 

[robert west]

1st in class 501 is on mileage runs on the WCML after its quality control visit to Alstom.
533 was delivered to Wembley last week, not sure if it made it across to GA metals.

720501 at the braintree end on 1300 braintree to liverpool street today

 

[Class360/1]

Also saw 501 at Hythe yesterday

 

[St. Paddy]

According to a certain Mr Clinnick on Twitter, 720107 and 533 have entered service. Anyone know if 108 is in service as it was delivered from Derby before 107. Finally, any update on which units have headed south fo mileage accumulation recently. TIA.

 

[JonathanH]

According to a certain Mr Clinnick on Twitter, 720107 and 533 have entered service. Anyone know if 108 is in service as it was delivered from Derby before 107. Finally, any update on which units have headed south fo mileage accumulation recently. TIA.

Reports elsewhere suggest that 720108 was in service on 22 July.

 

[St. Paddy]

Reports elsewhere suggest that 720108 was in service on 22 July.

Thanks

 

[MDB1images]

According to a certain Mr Clinnick on Twitter, 720107 and 533 have entered service. Anyone know if 108 is in service as it was delivered from Derby before 107. Finally, any update on which units have headed south fo mileage accumulation recently. TIA.

Does anyone know the date 720107 and 720533 entered service and on what services(I usually find the detailed gen on UK Modern EMU group but that seems to have closed down today).

 

[Bikeman78]

Does anyone know the date 720107 and 720533 entered service and on what services(I usually find the detailed gen on UK Modern EMU group but that seems to have closed down today).

The close down is likely to be temporary. It suffered a spam attack yesterday so the owner has shut it down whilst he sorts it out.

 

[The Prisoner]

Greg Wallace’s Inside the Factory XL on BBC2 Monday night covered these being built in Derby. Available on the iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0019txm

 

[Class360/1]

Greg Wallace’s Inside the Factory XL on BBC2 Monday night covered these being built in Derby. Available on the iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0019txm

A great watch, highly recommend and provides lots of context.

 

[Goldfish62]

A great watch, highly recommend and provides lots of context.

It was a fascinating view. Unusually for such a programme I learned a lot.

 

[Bald Rick]

Greg Wallace’s Inside the Factory XL on BBC2 Monday night covered these being built in Derby. Available on the iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0019txm

Did he get to taste the units when they were only half made?

 

[Shunter_69]

Did he get to taste the units when they were only half made?

Ha ha

 

[Bletchleyite]

It was a fascinating view. Unusually for such a programme I learned a lot.

One thing I found particularly interesting was the structure - it's aluminium sandwich with corrugated aluminium between the two panels, which explains why the sidewalls are so thick compared with more conventional "body panels welded on a frame" construction used by other companies.

 

[Bald Rick]

One thing I found particularly interesting was the structure - it's aluminium sandwich with corrugated aluminium between the two panels

I haven’t seen the programme so can’t be sure, but what you describe sounds like what has been the standard method of construction for most Aluminium multiple units from the Class 158 onwards.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I haven’t seen the programme so can’t be sure, but what you describe sounds like what has been the standard method of construction for most Aluminium multiple units from the Class 158 onwards.

Yet the 158, Desiro etc have much thinner sidewalls than the *Star and Aventra, I guess it's just a different design of "honeycomb"?

 

[robert west]

Does anyone know the date 720107 and 720533 entered service and on what services(I usually find the detailed gen on UK Modern EMU group but that seems to have closed down today).

720108 and 533 both in service on 03/08/22

 

[hwl]

One thing I found particularly interesting was the structure - it's aluminium sandwich with corrugated aluminium between the two panels, which explains why the sidewalls are so thick compared with more conventional "body panels welded on a frame" construction used by other companies.

It isn't...

Each "plank" is cut (across the width from longer lengths) of a single extrusion. It is a single contiguous structure e.g. there aren't two panels with a sandwich etc like some composite structures, the structure you see is exactly as it left the extrusion press.

The most similar item most people will be familiar with are the extruded polycarbonate conservatory roof panels which have similar plank geometry limits (can be very slightly wider). With conservatory roof panels the hollow sections are rectangular cross section with the webs perpendicular to the sides (so they are more transparent) but with the rail extrusions strength and stiffness are more important so the webs are angled and the cross sections are trapezoidal.

For each larger parts (e.g. complete side) the adjacent planks click together similar laminate flooring and the joins are then welded inside and out.

Floor panels are typically 4 planks wide and side /roof panel 4/5 planks wide depending on manufacturer.

Sides normally have 3 separate profiles for the 5 planks e.g. bottom - middle - middle - middle - top.

Bombardier (Derby) are unique in using huckbolts to joint the completed floor / side / roof panels, at other factories including other former Bombardier factories outside the UK the joints between the floor /sides/roof are welded which significantly slows down overall production rates (if everything was built comparably well!)

 

[XAM2175]

Each "plank" is cut (across the width from longer lengths) of a single extrusion. It is a single contiguous structure e.g. there aren't two panels with a sandwich etc like some composite structures, the structure you see is exactly as it left the extrusion press.

Is this an evolution of - or replacement for - Bombardier's original FICAS technique?

 

[hwl]

Is this an evolution of - or replacement for - Bombardier's original FICAS technique?

slight evolution

 

[robert west]

720108 and 533 both in service on 03/08/22

720506 in service last night

 

[XAM2175]

slight evolution

Cheers.

 

[ANTONOV 12BP]

I've seen a lot of 5 car 720s on the West Anglian routes over the past few days. Do we know when GA will start doubling up the units, as I can't imagine 5 cars doing much justice on the Stansted shuttles, especially if we are due to lose the 745s onto the Great Eastern

 

[St. Paddy]

I've seen a lot of 5 car 720s on the West Anglian routes over the past few days. Do we know when GA will start doubling up the units, as I can't imagine 5 cars doing much justice on the Stansted shuttles, especially if we are due to lose the 745s onto the Great Eastern

I would guess that now the 317s are finished, getting rid of the 321s will be the next priority so you might be waiting a while

 

[47421]

I've seen a lot of 5 car 720s on the West Anglian routes over the past few days. Do we know when GA will start doubling up the units, as I can't imagine 5 cars doing much justice on the Stansted shuttles, especially if we are due to lose the 745s onto the Great Eastern

there are two AM peaks from Camb that are 10 car now, but long/medium distance commuter numbers are still massively down on pre-covid and so 5 cars manage fine on Camb services generally.

Some Hert East LivSt and Storford Stratford services are crowded Tott Hale - Cheshunt, but they cant be run as 10 cars until platform extension work at Hert East, Ware, Stratford plat 11 etc is completed.

 

[Bikeman78]

there are two AM peaks from Camb that are 10 car now, but long/medium distance commuter numbers are still massively down on pre-covid and so 5 cars manage fine on Camb services generally.

Some Hert East LivSt and Storford Stratford services are crowded Tott Hale - Cheshunt, but they cant be run as 10 cars until platform extension work at Hert East, Ware, Stratford plat 11 etc is completed.

A single 720 on Stansted Express must be grim. I did a few runs on pairs of 317s and the peak time runs were rammed with a mix of Harlow commuters and luggage laden airport passengers. Squeezing that lot into a space 40m shorter must be really enjoyable. Fortunately it's not my problem

 

[Bletchleyite]

A single 720 on Stansted Express must be grim. I did a few runs on pairs of 317s and the peak time runs were rammed with a mix of Harlow commuters and luggage laden airport passengers. Squeezing that lot into a space 40m shorter must be really enjoyable. Fortunately it's not my problem

TBH the Ryanair crowd are probably just about the only thing for which the wretched things are suitable!