Published on: Tuesday, 21 January 2020
Last updated: Tuesday, 21 January 2020
Brand new longer trains have today (Tuesday 21 January) gone into passenger service on Greater Anglia’s Sudbury-Marks Tey route.
Now all of Greater Anglia’s rural routes previously operated by old diesel trains have new bi-mode trains in service, which are powered by diesel and electricity.
The 05.30 service from Sudbury to Marks Tey was the first to operate with a brand new longer three-carriage train.
Made by Swiss manufacturer, Stadler, the new trains have more seats, USB and plug points, free fast wifi, air conditioning, better passenger information screens and improved accessibility including a retractable step at every door which bridges the gap between the train and the platform, making it easier to get on and off with a wheelchair, buggy or heavy luggage.
They are much greener than Greater Anglia’s old diesel trains, with lower emissions, and modern brakes which release less brake dust into the environment.
Ian McConnell, Greater Anglia franchise and programme director, said: “The first of our new trains went into passenger service in July on our Norwich-Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft routes.
“Today is an important milestone in the rollout of our bi-mode trains which are replacing our old diesel trains, as it’s the tenth and final route where we are starting to run our new bi-mode trains in passenger service.
“Over coming weeks, the transition to all new trains will be complete on Greater Anglia’s diesel rural routes.
“The new trains are longer and equipped with everything a 21st century rail passenger expects to make their journey better. They will also ultimately bring us improved reliability.”
Martino Celeghini, technical project manager at Stadler said: “More bi-modes in passenger service means more trains on the Greater Anglia network that are built to an extremely high standard, promoting passenger comfort and enviable green credentials and enhancing the customer experience.”
Greater Anglia this month started running the first of its new intercity trains on the Norwich-London route. By Easter all its old intercity trains will have been replaced with brand new trains, also made by Stadler.
The first of the company’s 111 new electric commuter trains, made by UK manufacturer, Bombardier, which will run into Liverpool Street from Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Ipswich has also been delivered, ready for testing on the network.