Published on: Friday, 23 March 2018
Last updated: Friday, 23 March 2018
Greater Anglia can now unveil the “face” of the new trains which will be running around East Anglia from next year.
Stadler has sent over this photo, showing the shells of driver’s cabs, from the factory in Bussnang, Switzerland, where the new trains are being assembled.
The cab, or “face”, will be connected to body shells to form the front of one of the 58 Greater Anglia trains that Stadler is building.
The Swiss company is making new trains which will replace Greater Anglia’s existing Intercity, rural and Stansted Express trains.
All of the new trains will be fitted with air conditioning, plug and USB sockets, fast free wifi and more seats.
They will also have accessible toilets, cycle spaces and large picture windows.
From 2019-2020 Greater Anglia is replacing every single train with 169 brand new trains, being built by Stadler and Bombardier, in Derby.
Combined with a new timetable scheduling extra and more frequent services, the new trains are set to transform the railway in East Anglia.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “How exciting to see the first “face” of our new Stadler trains. Engineers are working hard across the UK and Europe building our new trains, which we can’t wait to have in service.
“We’re sure they’ll make a huge difference to our customers – everyone will be able to plug in their phones or laptops, watch films on our new infotainment system or simply sit back and enjoy watching the East Anglian countryside go past through the large picture windows.”
Ralf Warwel, Sales Director for Stadler, said: “With the first new Stadler trains entering service by next year, the development of the face is a key stage within the manufacturing process, bringing the trains to life and illustrating the progress made in their production over the last few months.”
The new Stadler trains are financed by Rock Rail East Anglia, a joint venture between Rock Rail, Aberdeen Standard Investments and GLIL Infrastructure, and will be leased to Greater Anglia.
Mark Swindell, Rock Rail Chief Executive Officer, said: “Rock Rail is thrilled to be part of a collaboration with Greater Anglia and Stadler which will see these new trains for the people of East Anglia come into operation next year.
“The many state of the art features will mean a step change in the travelling experience for passengers on the Norwich to London InterCity route, the Stansted Express and the important regional services throughout East Anglia.”
To find out more about the new trains and to see virtual reality video of them visit www.greateranglia.co.uk/newtrains.