More new trains on the way for Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia has provided an update on the rollout of its new trains.

It said its first replacement for 2022 will enter passenger service on the Southend Victoria-London line.

This UK-built electric commuter train will take the total of new vehicles in the Greater Anglia fleet to 103. New trains are now running on every route on the Greater Anglia network apart from between Ely and Kings Lynn, where they will be introduced later this year.

The new trains are longer with more seats, plug and USB sockets at every seat, free fast wifi and climate-controlled air conditioning. They also benefit from improved accessibility, such as accessible toilets, wheelchair areas, passenger information systems, call-for-aid buttons and priority seating.

The arrival of more new trains means that more of the train operator’s old vehicles have been retired and that, as a result, Greater Anglia’s says its entire fleet now meets modern accessibility standards.

New trains with low floors and retractable steps that bridge the gap between the train and platform run on most of Greater Anglia’s regional, intercity, and Stansted Express services.

Greater Anglia’s other new trains, which have two wheelchair spaces and one accessible toilet per five carriage train, which means four wheelchair spaces and two accessible toilets when running as ten carriages, operate on routes in Essex and on West Anglia services.

Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s engineering director, said: “With the removal of old trains from service, and more brand-new trains entering service regularly, our transformation of the railway in East Anglia has reached another positive milestone.

“This will make it much easier for people to travel with confidence on our network in future.”

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