GREATER ANGLIA has released pictures of the first completed bodyshells from its new Stadler Flirt trains, which will be introduced from 2019. However, industry insiders have suggested there have been difficulties negotiating the transfer of rolling stock maintenance personnel to Stadler ahead of the new fleets’ introduction.
The shells were manufactured by Stadler at its factory in Hungary and have been transported to its Bussnang factory in Switzerland, where they will be fitted out. Those pictured are from the 38 Class 755 bi-mode trains GA has ordered for its regional routes. The BMUs will work alongside 20 Class 745 EMUs, also from Stadler, for the Norwich to London and Stansted Express routes, plus 111 Class 720 EMUs from Bombardier for suburban services.
GA says it is on course to negotiate the maintenance transfer, although according to a letter sent to Unite members by GA Engineering Director Colin Dobson the first meeting between GA, Stadler and the union on 24 January had concluded ‘quickly and without agreement’. Mr Dobson said that ‘in a perfect world’ GA would have liked ‘more time to work though the detail’ of the rolling stock production schedule discussed at the meeting. ‘In reality, …
