Published on: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
Last updated: Wednesday, 19 October 2022
L-R Stephen Crocker, Lucy Wright and Juliette Maxam on the main stage at Norwich Theatre Royal
Greater Anglia is replacing every single old train with new trains – which means that every single old train has to be returned to its owner as new trains come in.
In the newest episode of Greater Anglia’s Life on Rails podcast, Brett Chalkley, Greater Anglia’s redelivery project manager, talks about the logistics of getting new trains – from the perspective of what happens to the trains they replace.
Each old train has to be returned to the lease company which owns it in a condition agreed with Greater Anglia – which includes removing all branding, repairing all paintwork and thoroughly cleaning the train inside and out.
The timing of getting new trains in and letting old trains go has to match exactly, partly due to limited space for keeping all the trains.
“It’s a monumental task. It’s one of the largest fleet replacement programmes and everyone focuses on new trains coming in but it’s one of the largest old fleet replacements as well, so the project for redelivering over 1,000 vehicles to four owners is a sizable task and one which has to be managed in minute detail as well,” says Brett in the podcast.
The new episode of Life on Rails was partly recorded on the stage of Norwich Theatre Royal, where co-hosts Juliette Maxam and Lucy Wright, from Greater Anglia’s PR team, interview Stephen Crocker, chief executive and creative director of Norwich Theatre.
Stephen talks about his new and ambitious plans for Norwich Theatre in the years ahead, which include continuing with what the Theatre does now such as big musicals and Christmas shows, and introducing new international and local works.
“It’s about making the work that we do have different impact in a post pandemic world, and in a world that’s facing a cost-of-living crisis,” said Stephen.
“I don’t see the Arts as something that can be cut off or that can be abandoned. The Arts are more essential around our mental health and wellbeing, both individually and collectively, now than ever before.”
Other features on the podcast are a spotlight on a station air quality trial Greater Anglia is taking part in, a rail replacement bus service myth buster, an introduction to one of the company’s control managers and the regular chat with fares guru Ken Strong who talks about flexi season tickets.
The podcast is available from all the usual podcast platforms as well as greateranglia.co.uk/podcast.
Juliette Maxam, Greater Anglia senior media and PR manager said: “We think this episode is another treasure trove of interesting facts about Greater Anglia, which we hope people will enjoy.
“Please subscribe to the podcast, leave us a review and let us know what you would like covered in future episodes by tweeting us at @greaterangliapr."