The first new suburban trains for Greater Anglia’s services in Essex and as far as Ipswich are now taking shape in Bombardier’s factory in Derby.
The Aventra trains are due to enter service in the region next year – and will also be used on Greater Anglia services between Liverpool Street and Cambridge. Existing trains should be replaced by the end of 2020.
The team at Bombardier is getting everything ready on the production line which will soon start assembling 111 brand new Greater Anglia trains.
Bombardier is building 665 new carriages which will form 22 ten-carriage trains and 89 five-carriage trains, which will start to come into service in 2019.
Every single train will have air conditioning, plug and USB points and fast free wifi, as well as accessible toilets, seat back tables and underfloor heating.
Greater Anglia Managing Director Jamie Burles said: “It’s so exciting to see the new trains beginning to take shape. These are a vital part of the transformation of the railway in East Anglia.
“It’s really possible now to imagine the huge difference these trains will make to our customers , making their journeys much more comfortable.”
Alan Fravolini, Bombardier’s Greater Anglia Project Director, said “It’s great to be starting full production of our new Aventra trains that will help transform journeys for Greater Anglia passengers; and all designed and built in Britain.”
The trains will have a mixture of three by two seating, and pairs of seats, which will all include lumbar support.
The carriages will be light and airy with no doors between carriages, so that passengers can easily walk from one carriage to another, as on modern Underground trains, which are also made by Bombardier.
They will also have information screens which will indicate where there are empty seats.
The exact specification of the interior has not yet been signed off, following a public consultation which saw over 1,000 people take part.
Greater Anglia has also ordered 58 new trains from Stadler in Switzerland to replace the existing intercity and rural line trains – the first area already taking shape in that company’s factory and should be delivered next year.
Greater Anglia is spending £1.4 billion on new trains – £900 million with Bombardier.
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