10.07.19
Testing begins on new ‘state-of-the-art’ Greater Anglia fleet
High-speed testing of a new fleet of UK-built commuter trains has begun, Greater Anglia has announced.
The 111 trains, built by Bombardier, are to run on Greater Anglia routes into London from counties across the East of England.
The new fleet is being tested at 110mph at the Railway Innovation and Development Centre testing track at Old Dalby, but the trains can only run up to 100mph when carrying passengers.
It signals the next phase of Greater Anglia’s plan to replace every single one of their current trains by next year, with the new fleet having more seats and improved on-board facilities.
The rail operator expects all of the new trains to be in operation by 2020 after undergoing testing of its brakes, acceleration and computer systems.
Ian McConnell, franchise and programme director at Greater Anglia, said:
“It’s good to see one of our new Bombardier trains running at full speed on the test track. I can’t wait to see it doing 100mph in East Anglia.
“These trains are going to transform our customers’ experience of rail travel in this region as we replace old trains with brand new state-of-the-art modern trains.”
It comes at the same time that 24 new intercity trains were delivered to Great Anglia, a type of train the operator will be running for the first time.