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

[childwallblues]

720134 and 720135 were noted on test at Stafford today.

 

[TheHSRailFan]

720132 and 720133 have entered service bringing the total number 109 720s according to an acceptance engineer at Greater Anglia.
about 24 left to enter.

I have also noticed a lot more 720s on the hertfords are on pairs now thanks to the more 720s which is good!

 

[60159]

They have still yet to be built, but I won't be surprised if those are the last Aventuras they are building and doing other events right now.

I may be wrong, but apart from 137 onwards there are a dozen which have been built for a while (502-5, 9, 10, 16, 19, 34, 101/2, and 4).
Are they likely to enter service soon?
I seem to recall it being said they’d ordered 20 too many which is the total referred to herein. Coincidence?

 

[AC47461]

I may be wrong, but apart from 137 onwards there are a dozen which have been built for a while (502-5, 9, 10, 16, 19, 34, 101/2, and 4).
Are they likely to enter service soon?
I seem to recall it being said they’d ordered 20 too many which is the total referred to herein. Coincidence?

I'm pretty sure 101 is out and about. Don't know about 102 or 104 but somewhere back up the thread there's mention of the remaining 5s needing the mods all the others have had.

 

[60159]

I'm pretty sure 101 is out and about. Don't know about 102 or 104 but somewhere back up the thread there's mention of the remaining 5s needing the mods all the others have had.

Thanks.

 

[meld3]

Last I heard was 720101 was still at Worksop ??

 

[The_Train]

Last I heard was 720101 was still at Worksop ??

Any idea when it went there please?

 

[wickham]

I have 720101 as Old Dalby to Worksop 07.04.20: Out of interest there are photos on Flickr of odd cars of 720102 standing around at Litchurch Lane, so possibly it has not actually been put together yet !

 

[The_Train]

I have 720101 as Old Dalby to Worksop 07.04.20: Out of interest there are photos on Flickr of odd cars of 720102 standing around at Litchurch Lane, so possibly it has not actually been put together yet !

Thanks it's hard work keeping track of these new units haha

 

[TheHSRailFan]

viewing peoples sightings on Trainlogger, there have been a few that where built, sent down the ilford, then sent back up to Derby. Theres also others that where sent to places like Worksop to be stored.

as for the 20 surplus issue, in my own experince... that isnt the issue anymore as passanger levels have recovered since the plandemic.

 

[Bald Rick]

as for the 20 surplus issue, in my own experince... that isnt the issue anymore as passanger levels have recovered since the plandemic.

The 20 surplus were effectively a growth build for additional services over and above 2019 service levels that are now not happening (4 trains an hour to Southend, for example)

 

[pokemonsuper9]

The 20 surplus were effectively a growth build for additional services over and above 2019 service levels that are now not happening (4 trains an hour to Southend, for example)

Even if 4tph to Southend isn't happening why not double up the 5 cars if there's spare units? Those units can get quite busy.

 

[Class360/1]

Varies - some of the off peak Walton, clacton, Colchester town and Ipswich services are very quiet, but then are very busy at the peaks.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

Even if 4tph to Southend isn't happening why not double up the 5 cars if there's spare units? Those units can get quite busy.

Varies - some of the off peak Walton, clacton, Colchester town and Ipswich services are very quiet, but then are very busy at the peaks.

I think Greater Anglia will start growing again soon as looking at Liverpool Street station in morning peak and Norwich when I get back, it's busy again. My feeling is from September trains will be full again and will require strengthening Tues, Wednesday and Thursday.
Question really is will the DFT let them grow

 

[markglos]

Derby Works 16-08-2023
Test Track 720509 & 720519 Running together
720138 & 720516 Seen between Shops
car 452142 seen by Main Shops

 

[Energy]

Question really is will the DFT let them grow

They've got the extra rolling stock, and Greater Anglia has either broke even or is very close.

 

[St. Paddy]

720137 moved from Derby to Willesden this afternoon

 

[St. Paddy]

Richard Clinnick tweeted last night that 720134/135/136 have been accepted for passenger service by GA

 

[Mordac]

How many are still left to be accepted?

 

[Shwam3]

How many are still left to be accepted?

21 remaining - 502-505, 509, 510, 516, 519, 534, 101, 102, 104, 128, 137-144

 

[RailWonderer]

Varies - some of the off peak Walton, clacton, Colchester town and Ipswich services are very quiet, but then are very busy at the peaks.

It's always been that way, except for when 4 car 360s ran in the off peak. The GE has always been predominantly a commuter route with practically no tourist traffic or leisure traffic to anywhere other than London (the Norwich IC and StanEx services carry those passengers).

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

How many are still left to be accepted?

21 remaining - 502-505, 509, 510, 516, 519, 534, 101, 102, 104, 128, 137-144

Have any of the following actually run in passenger service yet, does anyone know please?

101, 102, 104, 128, 131, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144 / 502, 503, 504, 505, 509, 510, 516, 519, 534

 

[GeoffS]

Have any of the following actually run in passenger service yet, does anyone know please?

101, 102, 104, 128, 131, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144 / 502, 503, 504, 505, 509, 510, 516, 519, 534

Have seen 131 myself, and according to Richard Clinnick's tweet mentioned above 134-136 have all been accepted.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Have any of the following actually run in passenger service yet, does anyone know please?

101, 102, 104, 128, 131, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144 / 502, 503, 504, 505, 509, 510, 516, 519, 534

I have seen 720131 a couple of times on 15/08/2023 at Bethnal Green so presumably in service.

 

[APT618S]

Have any of the following actually run in passenger service yet, does anyone know please?

101, 102, 104, 128, 131, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144 / 502, 503, 504, 505, 509, 510, 516, 519, 534

Have seen 131 myself, and according to Richard Clinnick's tweet mentioned above 134-136 have all been accepted.

I have been on 720131, date was 20/09/23, service was 2F68 1536 Liverpool St - Colchester Town.

 

[Wivenswold]

131 entered service on the 1st August 2023 according to my notes.
134 passed me at Stratford on Sunday, didn't see whether it was in service.

 

[The_Train]

720136 has now entered service

 

[robert west]

131 entered service on the 1st August 2023 according to my notes.
134 passed me at Stratford on Sunday, didn't see whether it was in service.

did see it in service on 31/07/23 on 0858 witham to livepool st

 

[The_Train]

did see it in service on 31/07/23 on 0858 witham to livepool st

Is that reference to 134, Robert?

 

[robert west]

Is that reference to 134, Robert?

720131 (was with 130)