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Andrew Gwilt   29/01/2018 at 20:44

One problem. And that’s at Wickford station. The bay platforms (platforms 1 & 4) are too short and can only accommodate a 4-Car train. Unless the platforms can be extended to allow a 5-Car train to use the 2 platforms which would operate on the Crouch Valley Line. But I reckon that Greater Anglia could inherit couple “Renatus” Class 321’s or Class 379’s Electrostar EMU units just for the Wickford-Southminster branch line because of the platforms at Wickford are short. Whilst the 2 through platforms are fine which will accommodate 5-Car and 10-Car trains between Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria.

National Expression   29/01/2018 at 22:44

Wickford-Southminster is the new Marks Tey-Sudbury

Andrew Gwilt   29/01/2018 at 23:24

This is getting pathetic. Why keep on mentioning about the Sudbury Line. Yes new trains are coming for that branch line but I was talking about Wickford. For goodness sake.

Paul   30/01/2018 at 01:34

Who writes these pathetic non-soundbites supposedly spouted by the MD/PR Expert/Numpty from the relevant TOC or whatever? As if James Burles said such nonsense, as if the whole exercise is based around people being able to Facetime whilst stuck at failed signals or whatever. In the real world of course the new trains will be welcome, even more so if they buck current tends and actually have comfortable seats which also line up with windows. But service reliability is of more concern to most people. There is also the issue of where are they going to store these new trains now that the proposed depot at Brantham appears to have stretched the pocket money?

SPT   30/01/2018 at 13:15

I think the Wickford bay platforms will be the least of GA's concerns if the depot at Brantham doesn't go ahead. Local press reports suggest that someone forgot about Manningtree level crossing and the frequency it's closed at present versus the increased frequency it will be closed if the depot went ahead... Smacks of p*sspoor planning by NR and GA to be honest to forget something as obvious as that. As to Jamie Burles' alleged comments - I just can't wait to Facetime my other half from the rock hard seat I'll be perched on in the brand new train while its sat stationary due yet again to some NR infrastructure failure... woo hoo..... 21st century trains at 19th century speeds....

SPT   30/01/2018 at 17:58

Oh and being on or very next to the flood plain for the River Stour estuary, the Brantham site is also likely to suffer from water ingress... something else that maybe wasn't thought about...

Andrew Gwilt   30/01/2018 at 21:18

Im sure the new depot at Brantham will go ahead. It might take at least a year & 1/4 to build the new depot or even year & 1/2.

Andrew JG   31/01/2018 at 08:54

As the new rolling stocks are coming that Greater Anglia have ordered. Including the Class 720’s Aventra and Class 745’s and Class 755’s Flirts. The Class 153’s and Class 156’s Sprinters could be cascaded to GWR or Northern. Class 170’s Turbostar could be cascaded to TPE, CrossCountry or ScotRail. Class 379’s Electrostar could be cascaded to Great Northern (working alongside Class 387/1’s) or South Wales. Class 360’s Desiro could be cascaded to South Wales (aswell the Ex-Heathrow Connect Class 360/2’s). And the Class 317’s and Class 321’s could be cascaded to South Wales or Northern.

Isambard Jean-Jacques Brunel   31/01/2018 at 11:03

Andrew, let's just be clear, Greater Anglia are not having any Class 321s, Renatus, 379s or otherwise. They have signed up to the franchise on the basis of a 100% new fleet. TransPennine has likewise signed up a contract that does not feature any Class 170s, and when have any 156s operated on the Western - never - and never will, so why regurgitate these irrelevant flights of fancy. Please.

Cosmo   31/01/2018 at 20:00

This guy should cascade his train of thought to a line a very long way away from here.

Andrew JG   31/01/2018 at 21:27

Ok I’ve proven wrong anyway. FFS.

Andrew JG   31/01/2018 at 21:28

I just assume that the other stocks could be scrapped.