Published on: Friday, 21 September 2018
Last updated: Friday, 21 September 2018
The interior of Greater Anglia’s brand new trains due to run on regional routes in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire have been revealed.
Swiss train manufacturer, Stadler, unveiled the first complete bi-mode train built for Greater Anglia at the InnoTrans train exhibition in Berlin yesterday (Thursday).
Now the public can now see how the trains, which can switch between diesel and electric power, have been fitted out – with airy open carriages, more seats and carpeted floors.
Each seat has access to a plug and USB point and large picture windows are fitted with a special mesh to help maximise mobile phone signal.
Double sliding doors replace single doors, making it easier to get on and off the train.
A low-level floor and retractable step to bridge the gap between train and platform make the trains more accessible for people with wheelchairs, pushchairs or luggage.
An accessible seating area has been created, using feedback from disability professionals and disabled rail users, with the opportunity to sit facing forwards or backwards and including a little table.
Each train has an accessible toilet – with emergency help buttons placed at floor level at the request of the group of disability experts who advised Greater Anglia on the designs of the trains - and another toilet.
There is an area for six bikes – with a pull-out green strap available to keep them secure.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “Stepping on board these new trains, brings to life how much they are going to transform train travel in East Anglia.
“These three and four carriage trains are replacing the existing single or two carriage trains which run on rural routes such as Norwich to Great Yarmouth, Ipswich to Lowestoft and Marks Tey to Sudbury.
“I’m sure customers will love the new modern feel of the trains, with everything rail passengers expect nowadays such as plug and USB points, air conditioning and free fast wifi.
“I think they’ll like the seating arrangements which gives every seat either a table or seat back table and we’ve used an expert to make sure the seats themselves are as comfortable as they can be.”
Every carriage has a modern passenger information screen, with destination data as well as information about seat availability in the whole train.
The middle of the trains contains a “power pack”, home to the diesel engine and other traction equipment, with a gangway so that people can walk through it to the other end of the train.
Earlier this month, Greater Anglia released video footage of a bimode undergoing performance tests at Velim, in the Czech Republic.
The trains have to undergo safety, reliability and performance testing both abroad and in the UK. Drivers, conductors, maintenance and station staff also have to undertake training for the new trains before they can come into service in the middle of next year.
Greater Anglia is replacing every single train on its network with brand new trains. 58 are being built by Stadler and 111 are in production at Bombardier’s factory in Derby, UK.
