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

[720144]

720144 rather unexpectably through Nuneaton at 1222 on 5Q27

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C15188/2024-09-20/detailed Really no way it thinks it’s pathing as a class 350 to rugby ?

720502 and 139 on test tonight

They will be the next to enter service hopefully & 140.

 

[Chorley Cake]

Realtime Trains | 5Q77 0745 Wembley Inter City Depot to Stafford | 21/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q77 0745 departure from Wembley Inter City Depot to Stafford on 21/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

720144 is on this today

 

[47584Suffolk]

720137 returned Derby 5th August.

720137 returned to Ilford as 5Q30 08+54 ex Derby Litchurch Lane on Tu.20 August behind 69011. It has since been noted on test runs with 720140 at Ipswich and Harwich on M.9 September.

 

[720144]

It needs to be like that all the time, or at least at the weekend peak

That’s very good news, there is a full house of 10 coaches running on the Southend Vic, Ipswich, Clacton, Braintree & Colchester town diagrams all day long until about 10pm.

Only 5 coaches all day on Hertford, Cambridge bishops sortford & meridian water.

Realtime Trains | 5Q77 0745 Wembley Inter City Depot to Stafford | 21/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q77 0745 departure from Wembley Inter City Depot to Stafford on 21/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

720144 is on this today

thanks.

 

[amwells]

Are there any other 720s running around with coach(es) of another set?

I’d be interested in this too - was the carriage renumbered when switched out?

 

[Pinza68]

I’d be interested in this too - was the carriage renumbered when switched out?

Yes it was

 

[720144]

I’d be interested in this too - was the carriage renumbered when switched out?

More or likely will be 534 & 516 when they eventually enter service.

 

[Class 170101]

Colchester town isn’t served on Sundays which I haven’t got to the conclusion why.

Lack of interest from various parties.

 

[robert west]

Lack of interest from various parties.

there is a 5Q20 0907 derby to ilford depot today
does anyone know what unit this is please.
Many thanks.

 

[Covshire1]

there is a 5Q20 0907 derby to ilford depot today
does anyone know what unit this is please.
Many thanks.

720536 + 720537

 

[robert west]

720536 + 720537

many thanks

 

[720144]

720536 + 720537

Thanks a never knew about them going up to derby in the first place, thought it would be 139x144.

Only 5 coaches on the stansted diagram today according to rtt & tigerworldline. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C34557/2024-10-05/detailed#allox_id=0

 

[Alfie1014]

Another significant OLE issue on the GE today on the Clacton branch https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/tra...ions/disruption-between-hythe-thorpe-le-soken, coming soon after 2 on the main line in the last few weeks, (Beaulieu Park and Marks Tey), where 720s were involved is there an issue with them and the aging OLE I wonder or just a run of bad luck?

 

[3973EXL]

720538

Realtime Trains | 5Q12 1255 Worksop Down Yard to Derby Litchurch Lane | 08/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q12 1255 departure from Worksop Down Yard to Derby Litchurch Lane on 08/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[wickham]

5Q72 1003 Derby to Wembley has run today (Tues 22/10), possibly a new 720 ??

 

[Obar123]

No, 37510 + 730233

 

[robert west]

No, 37510 + 730233

5q02 and other test runs on geml today
assume 720 being tested

 

[720144]

5q02 and other test runs on geml today
assume 720 being tested

Yes that’s 720140.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Have none of the last 14 entered service yet?

 

[JonathanH]

Have none of the last 14 entered service yet?

Nothing reported since 720142 back in June.

 

[720144]

Nothing reported since 720142 back in June.

True, I reckon 502 137 139 & 140 will be next up to enter service.

 

[Kite159]

I guess for Greater Anglia there is no real need to get the remaining 720s in service, all the older units have gone and they are still running a reduced timetable compared to 2019 with enhancements* kicked into the long grass

(4tph all day to Southend etc)

 

[800001]

I guess for Greater Anglia there is no real need to get the remaining 720s in service, all the older units have gone and they are still running a reduced timetable compared to 2019 with enhancements* kicked into the long grass

(4tph all day to Southend etc)

It will be in there interest to get them in service surely!

They are paying for them, get them accepted and they are available to utilise as part of the whole fleet.

No good cancelling or short forming if a train fails, yet have several units not accepted.

 

[Milo T.K]

Apparently there's a new livery coming for one 720 and a 755 in November supposedly from rumours going around

 

[saismee]

Apparently there's a new livery coming for one 720 and a 755 in November supposedly from rumours going around

Hope they're a little more creative than the existing ones. It really looks like they just slapped some decals on, and the hares are only on one side!

 

[720144]

Apparently there's a new livery coming for one 720 and a 755 in November supposedly from rumours going around

Why not give a 745 a chance. Wouldn’t be surprised if a 720 did get a gold livery to support a charity maybe.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

It will be in there interest to get them in service surely!

They are paying for them, get them accepted and they are available to utilise as part of the whole fleet.

No good cancelling or short forming if a train fails, yet have several units not accepted.

I think you might find they're more highly utilised than many people think, particularly as they're supporting the Stansted Express units, that's taking 4 of the 'spare' units and I suspect as passenger numbers grow and tables are fitted to the 745s you'll see the another 2 720s added to the Stansted route to release another 745 to replace the 3 x 755 diagram.

 

[720144]

I think you might find they're more highly utilised than many people think, particularly as they're supporting the Stansted Express units, that's taking 4 of the 'spare' units and I suspect as passenger numbers grow and tables are fitted to the 745s you'll see the another 2 720s added to the Stansted route to release another 745 to replace the 3 x 755 diagram.

They will never replace the 755 triple traction on the intercity, at least 2 745’s have to be kept out of service per week for maintenance, Though I reckon there will be a permanent 2nd 720 on the stansted diagram soon as the remaining 14 units are delivered & during off peak weekdays & Saturdays, they can run a full house of 10 cars on the geml & waml except branch lines for more capacity.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

They will never replace the 755 triple traction on the intercity, at least 2 745’s have to be kept out of service per week for maintenance, Though I reckon there will be a permanent 2nd 720 on the stansted diagram soon as the remaining 14 units are delivered & during off peak weekdays & Saturdays, they can run a full house of 10 cars on the geml & waml except branch lines for more capacity.

I think it will depend on the requirements of regional 755s in the future as there aren't many spare 755s should extras be required, obviously the limiting factor for using them is infrastructure to support extra services (Ely) anyway who knows what the timetable will look like in the next couple of years but I'm fairly certain GA have seen good growth in regional services.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Apparently there's a new livery coming for one 720 and a 755 in November supposedly from rumours going around

A good idea would be a Stansted Express livery for a dedicated fleet of 720s for the Stansted Express.