TONY MILES travels to Switzerland to see production of the first BMUs and EMUs for Greater Anglia
The first of 38 bi-mode trains being built by Stadler for Greater Anglia is now being fitted out and tested at the manufacturer’s commissioning centre at Erlen, Switzerland. Designated Class 755, the 24 four-car (Class 755/4) and 14 three-car (Class 755/3) BMUs (bi-mode units) will replace all the current DMUs in the operator’s fleet. They will work on trains from Marks Tey to Sudbury; Norwich to Sheringham, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Cambridge; and Ipswich to Felixstowe, Lowestoft, Cambridge and Peterborough.
Also under construction at Stadler’s facilities in Switzerland are 20x12-car EMUs, 10 of which will be allocated to London to Norwich inter-city services to replace the ageing Class 90/Mk 3 sets, and the other 10 to the Stansted Express.
Designated Class 745 and featuring the same body and cab design as the BMUs, the 10 inter-city sets will offer first class accommodation in a 2+1 arrangement and will include a catering bistro serving a range of food and drinks.
The new Stadler trains, with an overall order value of £600 million, are financed by Rock Rail East Anglia, a joint venture between Rock …
