Abellio Continue Anglia Franchise

As Many Of You Will Be Aware, The Abellio GreaterAnglia Franchise Ends In October. Abellio Have Been Awarded The New Franchise Until 2025, And They Aim To Bring Many Upgrades.....

FLEET ORDER:
- 10 12-car Stadler FlirtUK Trains for the Norwich-London route, still with onboard catering (trolley/buffet, not yet decided) which will help to achieve 90 minute journeys between Norwich and Liverpool Street, and two times each direction on a weekday Liverpool Street - Ipswich. Not only is this because the new Stadler trains can accelerate quicker, but the calling pattern on the train will be adapted so some trains are non-stop on the schedule.
- 10 Electric powered 12-car Stadler FlirtUK Trains for the Stansted Express and West Anglia lines. This means the 317s/379s are likely to go off-lease. 
- 22 10-car and 89 5-car Bombardier Aventras, for GEML and West Anglia lines, similar to the type of stock for CrossRail (with more seating, rather than standing space). This will mean platforms will need to be extended at some locations, as many are only 8-car long at present. 
- 24 4-car and 14 3-car Stadler Units for the Regional Network, and these will be electric and diesel powered units to operate on the OHLE wherever available. Naturally though, the Diesel Power can only be used at present between Norwich and Lowestoft/Yarmouth /Sheringham, Ipswich to Cambridge /Peterborough/ Felixstowe/Lowestoft, Marks Tey to Sudbury (OHLE for extended journeys to Colchester, as I'll explain soon) and also Norwich to Stansted via Ely (extended from Cambridge, OHLE powered from Ely), meaning the 153/156/170s will no longer be required. To clarify, the bi-mode trains can power up to OHLE where available, with diesel operation on other lines.
*** NOTE: All of these trains will have free Wi-Fi, plus there'll be an improved WiFi service at stations. Old MK3 stock will be cascaded/withdrawn, with one set going to the A1 group. ***

In the meantime, the 317 Refresh and 321 Renatus overhaul is ongoing and the IC sets now have CETs (though not yet in use), as this is a short term upgrade. However, all of the current fleet will obviously be displaced or withdrawn when they come off lease when the new trains arrive. 

SERVICES: Generally 10% quicker, as trains can pick up speed quicker.
- 4 through services between Liverpool Street and Lowestoft via Saxmundham reinstated;
- Hourly services between Ipswich and Peterborough (currently every 2 hours) with most trains also extended to and from Colchester;
- 1 additional morning peak round trip between Ipswich and Cambridge allowing an hourly service to operate throughout the day.
- Almost all hourly services between Norwich and Cambridge are to be extended in the new franchise to provide a direct service to and from Stansted Airport;
- There will be an earlier first service from Cambridge to Norwich and 1 additional evening service from Norwich to Cambridge;
- Operating hours of 2 trains per hour between Norwich and Great Yarmouth and later evening services from Norwich to Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Sheringham. 
- 1 additional service from Ipswich to Lowestoft allowing an hourly service to operate throughout the day;
- Earlier first services from Clacton and Braintree to Liverpool Street; 1 additional evening through service from Liverpool Street to Harwich Town; later connections from London to Southminster and Braintree;
- Most Sudbury branch services extended to and from Colchester and Colchester Town.

And free Wi-Fi to be installed to many more stations and current Intercity Stock by October 2016, not forgetting the new maintenance plant for trains at Manningtree from approximately 2020 in the new franchise, means progress is being made.

Harry, that's all from me until 6th September.
Regards:

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