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

[Tram203]

Extra good news, 720104 will also be heading into service today.

Realtime Trains | 2Y02 0534 London Liverpool Street to Ipswich | 29/03/2025

Real-time train running information for 2Y02 0534 departure from London Liverpool Street to Ipswich on 29/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I travelled in vehicle 451104 of this unit earlier this morning.

If, as suggested upthread, this is the vehicle that was originally numbered as 451583 but was swapped out due to it being problematic, it was still proving problematic to a degree today - no working passenger information screens, they simply displayed 'network error' or something similar. The screens in the other vehicles of the unit seemed to be working fine.

 

[720144]

I travelled in vehicle 451104 of this unit earlier this morning.

If, as suggested upthread, this is the vehicle that was originally numbered as 451583 but was swapped out due to it being problematic, it was still proving problematic to a degree today - no working passenger information screens, they simply displayed 'network error' or something similar. The screens in the other vehicles of the unit seemed to be working fine.

So technically 720583 has the PMS coach from 720104 & then 720104 has the PMS coach from 720583.

 

[Peter Sarf]

So technically 720583 has the PMS coach from 720104 & then 720104 has the PMS coach from 720583.

If curious enough it would be worth looking closely at the numbers on the outside. Sometimes can see the outline of the old/previous number.

 

[720_Aventra]

720504 is in service today.

Realtime Trains | 2F06 0732 Chelmsford to Braintree | 31/03/2025

Real-time train running information for 2F06 0732 departure from Chelmsford to Braintree on 31/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Now leaves 505 to enter service

 

[720144]

720504 is in service today.

Realtime Trains | 2F06 0732 Chelmsford to Braintree | 31/03/2025

Real-time train running information for 2F06 0732 departure from Chelmsford to Braintree on 31/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Now leaves 505 to enter service.

What a weekend of good luck. That’s it only 1 more to go. 505 the last one.

Didn’t 505 go back to Willesden again recently?

 

[TheEngineer]

What a weekend of good luck. That’s it only 1 more to go. 505 the last one.

Didn’t 505 go back to Willesden again recently?

505 was on Willesden depot on Saturday with its nose sticking out of the south end of the shed on the side closest to the WCML

 

[800001]

720117 reportedly on route to Barton Under Needlewood (Alstom Voyager site).

 

[jonb]

720117 reportedly on route to Barton Under Needlewood (Alstom Voyager site).

Have others visited here too, anyone know of the work being undertaken?

 

[720144]

720117 reportedly on route to Barton Under Needlewood (Alstom Voyager site).

I haven’t seen that unit around for ages now.

 

[800001]

I haven’t seen that unit around for ages now.

I’ve seen via Facebook that it is off for Tyre Turning and more units will also go there.

 

[Snow1964]

I’ve seen via Facebook that it is off for Tyre Turning and more units will also go there.

Seems a long way to go for a fleet with a lifespan of about 40 years, would have thought they should have installed an extra tyre turning lathe on their operating patch.

It cannot be cheap sending lots of units away for potentially decades

 

[3973EXL]

720117

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 0725 Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Ilford E.M.U.D. | 03/04/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 0725 departure from Barton Under Needwood Rsmd to Ilford E.M.U.D. on 03/04/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Peter Sarf]

Seems a long way to go for a fleet with a lifespan of about 40 years, would have thought they should have installed an extra tyre turning lathe on their operating patch.

It cannot be cheap sending lots of units away for potentially decades

I vaguely recall reading a wheel lathe is being installed on GA at somewhere like Clacton or Southend - the end of a branch anyway.

Yes. At long last one is being constructed at Clacton.

Found the above, knew I was not (very) mad..

 

[720144]

I’ve seen via Facebook that it is off for Tyre Turning and more units will also go there.

Many thx.

Also what’s happened to 144? that hasn’t been out of Ilford in over a week.

 

[Geml246]

Many thx.

Also what’s happened to 144? that hasn’t been out of Ilford in over a week.

Currently on P8 at Liverpool St according to RTT.

 

[wickham]

At 1300 today (Tues 01.04.25) 720505 sitting in Willesden TMD - third shed road in from the WCML side - not the usual location, being worked on by the "Orange Brigade".
720504 appears from RTT to be out of service at Colchester today, shown to go ECS to Ilford, but cancelled.

At 1300 today (Tues 01.04.25) 720505 sitting in Willesden TMD - third shed road in from the WCML side - not the usual location, being worked on by the "Orange Brigade".
720504 appears from RTT to be out of service at Colchester today, shown to go ECS to Ilford, but cancelled.

720504 back in service for Wednesday 02/04 evening peak, ECS from Ilford to Liverpool St.

 

[720144]

720504 appears from RTT to be out of service at Colchester today, shown to go ECS to Ilford, but cancelled.

That’s good. There was some fault with 504 the day before at Colchester depot, but it’s back running today.

At 1300 today (Tues 01.04.25) 720505 sitting in Willesden TMD - third shed road in from the WCML side - not the usual location, being worked on by the "Orange Brigade".

I wonder when 505 will head back to Ilford to enter service ?

 

[Peter Sarf]

At 1300 today (Tues 01.04.25) 720505 sitting in Willesden TMD - third shed road in from the WCML side - not the usual location, being worked on by the "Orange Brigade".
720504 appears from RTT to be out of service at Colchester today, shown to go ECS to Ilford, but cancelled.


720504 back in service for Wednesday 02/04 evening peak, ECS from Ilford to Liverpool St.

Reading the above (for 02/04/2025) reminded me of the following two posts about 720504 on the Urgent TOPS request thread, covering the next day. (03/04/2025).

Could anyone tell me what 720 504 is doing please?

RTT is showing it in a 15 car set which suggests a diagram swap between a 5 and a 10 which hasn't registered on the system properly yet...

Reply :-

Colchester CS			05:50	5F57	IL441	2 with 720564 720526
Colchester Town	2	06:04	06:12	1F07	IL441	1 with 720526 720564
London Lvpool St	56	07:31	07:40	5F88	IL441	2 with 720564 720526
Colchester CS	107	08:42	14:21	5V53		1 with 720544
Ilford EMUD	150	15:30

Both Genius and TRUST show it as a 15 car train!!

I wonder what is really going on ?.

 

[wickham]

720504 appear to be out of service again today (Thurs 03/04/25), it has gone ECS from Colchester to Ilford (again !!).
Secondly, although 720505 has breifly visited Ilford twice a week or so ago, I don't think we can regard it as officially delivered to GA yet. It still appears to be under attention at Willesden TMD and has not done any proper WCML mileage yet (only one return trip).

 

[720144]

720504 appear to be out of service again today (Thurs 03/04/25), it has gone ECS from Colchester to Ilford (again !!).

720504 is booked to be running all day on Southend with 576. Also 104 working with 547 all day on Southend.

 

[wickham]

720504 according to RTT has not been out in service for some days now, it appears to have last run during the am peak only on Wednesday 9th April and then disapeared. It does not appear to have put in many all day service appearances since it entered service !

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

720504 according to RTT has not been out in service for some days now, it appears to have last run during the am peak only on Wednesday 9th April and then disapeared. It does not appear to have put in many all day service appearances since it entered service !

That’s really not that long ago at all.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I observed 720 505 to still be present at Willesden today.

 

[720144]

720504 according to RTT has not been out in service for some days now, it appears to have last run during the am peak only on Wednesday 9th April and then disapeared. It does not appear to have put in many all day service appearances since it entered service !

504 is back on today doing Wickford to Liverpool Street all day coupled to 133.

 

[stuart81]

Everyday there is a list of services operating with either reduced or no toilets (all 720 services)

Is there one to two units with toilets out of use or is there a wider issue?

 

[800001]

Everyday there is a list of services operating with either reduced or no toilets (all 720 services)

Is there one to two units with toilets out of use or is there a wider issue?

No different to other units surely?

 

[DannyMich2018]

Everyday there is a list of services operating with either reduced or no toilets (all 720 services)

Is there one to two units with toilets out of use or is there a wider issue?

Surely if a 720 has both toilets out of use it should not be in service unless it's coupled to another 720?

 

[800001]

Surely if a 720 has both toilets out of use it should not be in service unless it's coupled to another 720?

Trains are allowed in service with no toilets operational. It is has you then manage that issue on the day. (reasonable adjustments).

Ie, announcements on stations, displaying on the CIS screens, allowing customers to travel on different services if in advance tickets, having extended station calls for customers to use station facilities.

At my old TOC that’s what we did and it was lawful, but our accessibility team had to notify ORR that a train was in use with no accessible toilet in use, and there was a legal requirement where the toilet had to be fixed within X days.

 

[Wivenswold]

Sadly most of us who've worked on the railway have seen what happens on late night services if the toilets are locked out of use. Some people get so drunk and full of booze that they don't think to check their unit has a working toilet. It was a big problem with the Desiros and their one toilet and the propensity for some late services to only have 4 cars back in the day when "One"/NXEA was short of units.

 

[720_Aventra]

Realtime Trains | 5Q39 1032 Ilford E.M.U.D. to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 22/04/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q39 1032 departure from Ilford E.M.U.D. to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 22/04/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

720122 heading to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd for the wheel lathe