Latest Rail News

23.05.17

Great Northern completes refurb of Fen Line Class 387s

Great Northern has now replaced all the trains running between King’s Lynn and Cambridge with more modern, air conditioned carriages.

The news comes a day after the new Cambridge North station was opened, which will serve both Great Northern and Greater Anglia services for the region.

Previously, 22-year-old trains ran along the line but today marks the operator completing refurbishing the whole fleet of Class 387 and Class 365 trains that service the route.

815 Interior of new train at Kings Lynn

On top of that, Great Northern has also doubled services at Ely station and introduced a twice-hourly service between London King’s Cross and the new station at Cambridge North.

Govia Thameslink Railway, the parent company of Great Northern, said the trains will mean a much better passenger experience for people using the railway.

“These cool trains are a refreshing change for our passengers along the route to King’s Lynn,” added infrastructure director Keith Jipps. “We think people will really click with the free wi-fi that we’ll be adding in the coming months and the on-board information systems and power points at every pair of seats.”

Jipps commented that the accessibility of the trains would mean more comfortable and easier journeys for many people.  

“Parents with buggies, passengers with luggage and people with restricted mobility will also welcome the train’s accessible toilets and designated areas for wheelchair users,” he added.

The move is part of a larger plan by Great Northern to replace three-quarters of its fleet by 2020, which will mean the operator has one of the newest fleets in the country.

“With two Great Northern trains an hour from King’s Cross to the new station, it’s never been easier for companies from the UK and across the globe to do business at the renowned Cambridge Business Park,” Jipps also stated.

“Our service will support the economic growth of Cambridgeshire by attracting commercial and residential development to the area.”

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Comments

Huguenot   23/05/2017 at 11:40

Lucky Cambridge-Kings Lynn passengers! The rest of us using Great Northern will have to make do with the uncomfortable Class 700s when the Class 365s are withdrawn.

Andrew Gwilt   23/05/2017 at 11:41

So all 29 Class 387/1's Electrostars are now with Great Northern and have been refurbished along with the Class 365's. As the former GN Class 317's and Class 321's have been transferred to Greater Anglia with some Class 321's have been transferred to Scotrail (re-classified as Class 320's) and some Class 317's to TfL London Overground.

David   23/05/2017 at 17:13

Refurbishment? I'm not complaining, but all that's happened if that they have been transferred from Thameslink. Using the word "refurbishment" is a complete lie. And Andrew, Class 317/321 units are only being transferred to Greater Anglia currently, with two Class 321s going into storage.

Andrew R   23/05/2017 at 18:02

@Huguenot : These are Kings Cross - Kings Lynn services. I don't know why they've written 'between Cambridge & Kings Lynn'. I'd like to know their capacity compared to the Class 365 - the 08:58 from Ely seemed packed this morning.

Andrew Gwilt   23/05/2017 at 19:55

So the 2 Class 321's are to be unused and to be stored somewhere else. Whilst Greater Anglia have got the rest of the Class 317's and Class 321's cascaded from GN.

David   23/05/2017 at 21:08

Correct, 321401 and 321404 are in storage for the time being.

Andrew Gwilt   24/05/2017 at 05:50

Right. But will 321401 and 321404 be cascaded to Scotrail along with 321402 and 321403. Or will Greater Anglia keep the 2 Class 321's for couple years until their new trains have been manufactured and delivered.

Turbostar   24/05/2017 at 09:52

Looks like they have retained the Southern seat moquette & green doors as they were initially ordered by Southern & sent to work on Thameslink pending the arrival of the Class 700s.

David   24/05/2017 at 19:53

Andrew, the only reason why ScotRail took on seven Class 321s is because they needed extra capacity before the Class 385s come into service. Turbostar, that is correct.

Andrew Gwilt   25/05/2017 at 22:42

Now I understand where you are coming from David. So yes in fact the 2 Ex-GN Class 321's that are currently in storage will soon be downgraded to 3-car Class 320's and to be transferred to Scotrail. Whilst the other Ex-GN Class 321's will remain with Greater Anglia.

GW   27/05/2017 at 05:59

I don't know how some of the most uncomfortable trains on the network can be considered an improvement.

Jerry Alderson   27/05/2017 at 15:17

Andrew R wrote "These are King's Cross - King's Lynn services. I don't know why they've written 'between Cambridge and King's Lynn'." Probably because they have been operating between KGX and CBG since October 2016 but only started CBG to KLN in May 2017. So, only now are they running KGX to KLN.

David   27/05/2017 at 16:10

No you don't Andrew. I never said anything about 321401 and 404 being transferred to ScotRail. They most likely won't need the units.

Andrew Gwilt   29/05/2017 at 20:09

So the 2 Class 321 units as you've mentioned David may not be needed for Scotrail and Greater Anglia. And could be scrapped!!

Andrew Gwilt (Continued)   29/05/2017 at 20:11

Or What about Northern. Could Northern use "321401 and 404" to operate with the current Class 321/9's and Class 322's on the Leeds-Doncaster route.

David   30/05/2017 at 11:23

As I said Andrew, the two units will remain in storage for the time being.

David   30/05/2017 at 11:26

*make that three units.

Kate   04/06/2017 at 19:08

Shame the customer's experience is worse. Waiting at Cambridge platform for the incoming train that joins from kings Lynn the driver could not open the doors to let the considerable number of passengers in. Apparently 'the computer says no' and the front-train doors can't be opened till coupling has happened. (This wasn't an issue with previous carriages). Hope they sort this before winter or passengers waiting in rain or snow looking thro the doors into a cosy but empty train will be really pissed off.

DB   06/09/2017 at 05:02

It's pretty straight forward the same journey from Liverpool Street to Lynn is more comfortable. Better seats; better carriages and better value to for serious money we have to spend to use the service

John   01/11/2017 at 11:56

I'm astonished that the Class 387 stock is said to offer 'a much better passenger experience for people using the railway.' The seats are quite horribly uncomfortable and the layout is cramped. It has come to something when a journey to suburban Sevenoaks is more spacious, much more comfortable and a smoother ride than a 100-mile bus-quality trip to King's Lynn.

Bazil   19/02/2018 at 10:50

When the 387's were introduced on the Thameslink service I was surprised to find how uncomfortable they were compared to the 377'sI pity G N R passengers as they will now have to use the even more uncomfortable 700's.A Govia spokesman admits the seats are very "firm" due to fire Regulations. What poppycock it is perfectly easy to make padded seats fire proof .The new800/801's Intercity trains also have hard seating. don't forget the DFT civil servants made the specifications for all new trains they ordered so blame them for these uncomfortable trains

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