Rail franchises operators & contracts

David Faircloth   10/08/2016 at 21:27

Can someone please explain where the claim that Stadler will supply 383 bi-mode vehicles comes from? It isn't on the press releases I've found from the DfT or Abellio, and here is nothing about it on the Stadler website. Is it supposition based on "leaked" information, or is it fact?

Andrew Gwilt   10/08/2016 at 21:35

383 Bi-Mode vehicles that could be used on Liverpool St-Lowestoft, Liverpool St-Felixstowe, Liverpool St-Norwich via Cambridge/Ely and 660 Electric only vehicles (EMU's) that will replace the Class 321's and Class 317's EMU's used on the West Anglia and Great Eastern routes and new Intercity rolling stock vehicles to be used on Liverpool St-Norwich Intercity route replacing the Class 90 Mk3 rolling stocks. Plus Class 230's DEMU's could be used on some lines such as the Marks Tey-Sudbury line as well on the Ipswich-Felixstowe, Ipswich-Lowestoft, Norwich-Sheringham/Cromer, Norwich-Great Yarmouth, Norwich-Lowestoft, Ipswich-Peterborough, Ipswich-Cambridge, Norwich-Peterborough and Norwich-Cambridge lines to replace the Class 153's and Class 156's DMU's.

Richardw   11/08/2016 at 09:37

There is a proposed breakdown of fleet structure on http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/stadler-and-bombardier-to-supply-trains-for-abellio-east-anglia-franchise; this details the number of electro-diesels ordered. Much to AndrewG disappointment, there will be no 230's as Abellio seek whole fleet replacement.

John Grant   11/08/2016 at 10:37

"Controlled emission toilets on all trains" -- presumably the ones without toilets have been transferred to London Overground.

David Faircloth   11/08/2016 at 11:45

I note the inclusion of PLANNED on the Railway Gazette document. As all involved parties are currently silent regarding the involvement of Stadler, could it be that, as a consequence of the dramatic fall in the value of Sterling since the vote for Brexit, plans have changed and it is too early to confirm that procurement of trains from Stadler will still go ahead? The Flirts look interesting vehicles; as they are articulated, I wonder if the new Manningtree facility is being built specifically to maintain them? An if it is, what will be the role of Crown Point?

Andrew Gwilt   11/08/2016 at 22:37

I'm not disappointed anyway Richardw. I like what Abellio are to spend £1bn on improving services and to bring out brand new trains in years to come.

Jerry Alderson   12/08/2016 at 17:55

Interesting that free Wi-Fi on all trains is mentioned but no reference to power-points (especially USB ones). Passenger groups, Railfuture in particular, consider power-points to be potentially more important than Wi-Fi especially on longer journeys since most news apps cache stories. Not everyone wants to carry around a charged booster battery. It's a pity that Rail Technology Magazine has not added its own analysis to the press release. It's not rocket science. For example, the minimum train length will be three cars - so Felixstowe goes from a single Class 153 to a three-car train. Presumably it will be one of the last lines to see new rolling stock, which will clearly be prioritised on getting expensive trains off-lease. How many stations on the network will have platform extensions? SDO solves the safety issue but not trains blocking level crossings, for instance. No comment on the maintenance advantages of only having two types of train for the entire franchise? It certainly reduces costs. e.g less staff training, fewer spares to hold, same equipment to service all trains and so on. How about the lack of new services? All of the branch lines are hourly and it seems will stay that way. In many cases infrastructure improvements (e.g. passing loops) would be needed to go half hourly.

David Faircloth   12/08/2016 at 21:07

Jerry Alderson, please don't forget that the Flirts are artics and each car will therefore be shorter than the 23m of all of Anglia's current diesel fleet; moreover, they seem to manage at Sheringham OK with three-car class 170s - internal displays state "Front 2 coaches only" - which is very confusing as the front is the back between Norwich and Cromer! There are also some enhancements, if you look at the DfT's website; there are more trains between Norwich and Great Yarmouth and the frequency between Ipswich and Peterborough is doubled (with many extended to/from Colchester), and most Norwich - Cambridge trains will extend to Stansted Airport - will these run as electrics south of Ely?

Jak Jaye   13/08/2016 at 09:10

Can someone please explain why the DFt go to all the expense to put out a tender for this franchise only to award it to the same useless TOC? and has anyone noticed we only get to read about the massive improvements for the future,nothing at all about the dismal service and even worse customer information of now! pity the poor 'Angria' punters in the next 4 years. And i note not mention of what or when will new trains for the LST-Norwich route be,whtas wrong with the current 90.DVT/Mk3 combo? if any change all thay have to do is take the redundant Class 91 s off the ECML

Andrew Gwilt   13/08/2016 at 17:59

New railway stations are to be built and opened as Abellio are planning to build few new railway stations such as Cambridge South that will serve Addenbrookes Hospital to the south of Cambridge, Beaulieu in Chelmsford which is to be opened in 2021 that is part of the Beaulieu Park housing development and a proposed new Clacton North railway station to be built and opened in the 2020's as it will serve Clacton Common Outlet Village just like Braintree Freeport has its own railway station to serve the Outlet Shopping Village which is on the Braintree Line that opened in 1999.