Greater Anglia’s new Stadler trains complete first year of operation on performance high

Greater Anglia’s new trains, which are operating on regional routes in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and parts of Essex, are fulfilling their promise of transforming rail travel with more seats, a vastly improved travelling experience and better performance, according to the company.

Offering more comfortable seats, USB and plug points, Wi-Fi and air conditioning, the three and four carriage, air-conditioned trains are claimed to have provided a huge improvement on the trains they replaced.

They also boast ‘gold standard’ accessibility features - including a lower floor and a retractable step at every door to bridge the gap between the train and platform - and are more environmentally friendly than the train operator’s old diesel trains.

For the last three months, punctuality figures have mostly been between 93 and 99 per cent on routes where the new Stadler trains are running.

The first of Greater Anglia’s brand-new Stadler bi-mode trains set off for its maiden passenger voyage as the 7.47am service from Lowestoft to Norwich on July 29 last year.

At the time, Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, Jamie Burles, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for everyone involved with East Anglia’s railways – customers, communities and all the team here at Greater Anglia.

“Our new trains will transform rail travel across the region, bring wider economic, social, business, tourism and environmental benefits. It is the largest wholescale replacement of trains by any train company in the UK.”

Today he said: “We’re really pleased with the positive customer reaction to our new bi-mode trains.

“This has been a major project, but my team has kept up a relentless focus on bringing our fantastic new trains into service and providing a better service for customers across the region.

“I am really proud of their hard work and dedication to transforming rail travel for people in East Anglia and the passenger feedback has shown just how much the new trains are appreciated.

“We look forward to welcoming people back on board our more comfortable, quieter, more reliable and environmentally friendly services, now that travel advice has changed and everyone can take the train again.”

Ralf Warwel, UK and Ireland sales director, said: “This is a momentous achievement and we are very pleased to have reached this milestone. Working closely with our client, we look forward to the final furlong of the project, with trains for the Stansted Express line now starting to enter passenger service.’

Greater Anglia’s Stadler bi-mode trains have 167 or 229 seats, an increase of between 21 per cent and 42 per cent more seats on the trains they replace. In some cases, where they have replaced a single carriage train, there are 131 per cent more seats - although capacity has naturally been affected by Covid-19 precautions.

The new bi-mode trains will be better for the environment as the diesel engine is newer and more efficient than on existing trains and they can take advantage of running on electricity wherever there are overhead lines.

The introduction of the bi-mode trains on Greater Anglia’s regional routes was completed on February 1, 2020. The new intercity trains have also now all been brought into service on the Norwich to London route - taking over full operation of intercity services from March 25 onwards.

Greater Anglia commissioned 38 regional bi-mode trains (24 four-carriage trains and 14 three-carriage trains) which switch between electricity and diesel power, from international rail vehicle construction company Stadler, headquartered in Switzerland.

The bi-mode trains are part of a £600m investment in new Stadler trains for the region which have been financed by Rock Rail East Anglia and will be leased to Greater Anglia for the life of the franchise.

The new Greater Anglia franchise began operating on October 16, 2016, to provide intercity, commuter and rural services throughout Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, including the Stansted Express service. They employ over 3,000 staff, operate 1,300 train services per day and use 133 stations.

Greater Anglia has been replacing every single train on its network with brand new trains with air conditioning, plug and USB points and fast free wifi. They have also been introducing better timetables with more frequent services and more peak-time seats into London.

The operator is part of the Dutch-owned Abellio UK.