Greater Anglia

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Greater Anglia
AbellioEastAnglia.svg
Greater Anglia 745010 Colchester.jpg
Class 745 at Colchester in February 2020
Overview
Franchise(s) Greater Anglia
5 February 2012 – 15 October 2016
East Anglia
16 October 2016 – 20 September 2026
Main region(s) East of England
Other region(s) Greater London
Fleet size
Stations called at150
Stations operated134
Parent company Transport UK Group (60%)
Mitsui & Co (40%)
Reporting mark LE [2]
Predecessor National Express East Anglia
Other
Website www.greateranglia.co.uk OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Greater Anglia (legal name Transport UK East Anglia Limited) [3] is a British train operating company owned as a joint venture by Transport UK Group and Mitsui & Co. It operates the East Anglia franchise, providing the commuter and inter-city services from its central London terminus at London Liverpool Street to Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, as well as many regional services throughout the East of England.

Contents

Abellio began operating the franchise, then known as the Greater Anglia franchise, replacing the National Express franchise on 4 February 2012. Initially, it traded under the same name until it rebranded as Abellio Greater Anglia in December 2013. Shortly after taking over operations, the company initiated a series of projects to improve service levels, including the procurement of new trains and the launch of the Norwich in 90 programme to reduce travel times between several major locations on its network. In May 2015, Greater Anglia's suburban rail services were transferred to London Overground and the precursor to Crossrail, TfL Rail.

The franchise was retendered as the East Anglia franchise and was awarded to Abellio in August 2016. The company resumed trading as Greater Anglia on 16 October 2016 when the new franchise commenced. In January 2017, Abellio announced that subject to gaining Department for Transport approval, it had agreed to sell a 40% stake in the business to Mitsui. Since the completion of the sale in March 2017, Greater Anglia has incorporated several Japanese planning tools and practices. Trade unions have objected to some of the changes made by the company, leading to industrial action in 2017 and 2018 as a result of the dispute.

In December 2024 it was announced that Greater Anglia, would be one of the first train operating companies to be brought into public ownership as part of the government’s re-nationalisation plan, following South Western Railway and c2c. This is scheduled to take effect in autumn 2025 despite the existing franchise agreement not expiring until September 2026. [4]

History

Background

Abellio Greater Anglia logo as used from December 2013 until October 2016 AbellioGreaterAnglia.svg
Abellio Greater Anglia logo as used from December 2013 until October 2016

In December 2003, the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the Greater Anglia franchise to National Express, which began operations on 1 April 2004, initially under the brand-name One. [5] [6] The franchise was to run until March 2011, with provision for a three-year extension if performance targets were met. In November 2009, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that National Express would not be granted the three-year extension even though it had met the performance criteria, because National Express East Coast had defaulted on the InterCity East Coast franchise. [7] [8]

Following a change of government as a result of the 2010 general election, the DfT announced in June 2010 that all refranchising would be put on hold while a process review was conducted. [9] As a result, National Express East Anglia was granted an initial extension until October 2011, followed by another until February 2012. [10]

In March 2011, the DfT announced that Abellio, Go-Ahead, and Stagecoach had been shortlisted to bid for the franchise. [11] In October 2011, the new franchise was awarded to Abellio; accordingly, the services previously operated by National Express East Anglia were transferred to Greater Anglia on 5 February 2012. [12] [13] [14]

The Greater Anglia franchise was originally to run until July 2014; the reason for awarding a short franchise at a time when the government was speaking of its desire for longer franchises was to allow the government to digest the recommendations of the McNulty Rail Value for Money study before letting a long-term franchise. In March 2013, the Secretary of State for Transport announced the franchise would again be extended until 15 October 2016. [15] Greater Anglia was rebranded as Abellio Greater Anglia in December 2013. [16]

Changes

Prior to Greater Anglia, the last period of substantial investment in the region had been nearly 30 years earlier, specifically the electrification of the line north of Ipswich. [17] At the commencement of the franchise, railway commentator Philip Haigh observed that the region's services had changed little since the BR days, and that change was overdue. During the negotiations for the award of the franchise, Greater Anglia pledged to undertake numerous investments that would improve the various services and facilities offered. [17] On 4 November 2014, the Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce released its investment analysis report, which included a detailed breakdown of several proposed investments in the region's rail network. [17]

One major initiative that was commenced by Greater Anglia shortly after it took over operations was the 'Norwich in 90' campaign, aimed at introducing faster journey times, such as between London and Colchester within 40 minutes, London and Ipswich in 60 minutes, and London and Norwich in 90 minutes. [17] Several organisations, including Norfolk County Council, had been calling for such a scheme to be undertaken since as early as 2009. Abellio had acknowledged such calls in 2012, but could not justify making very substantial investments during the initial franchise period due to the short timescale involved. [17] The creation of the Great Eastern Rail Taskforce in 2013 was seen as a major step towards this. In 2015, Chloe Smith, Norwich North MP and co-chairman of the taskforce, noted that the scheme was as much a political effort as it was an engineering one. [17]

By the 2010s, the region's rail infrastructure was relatively worn-out and prone to unreliability. Modernisation efforts would therefore focus not only on improving absolute speeds but on reducing failure rates as well. [17] This work is being undertaken as a multiagency effort, involving not only infrastructure changes carried out by Network Rail and various civil engineering companies, but also the procurement of new rolling stock and other efforts. It was recognised early on that, for the intercity services to be meaningfully sped up, slower regional trains could not feasibly be overtaken or avoided on the mostly twin-track line, so that services overall would need to be accelerated. [17] There has also been an aspiration to increase the number of trains between Norwich and London to three per hour, although capacity constraints such as the single-track section in the vicinity of the Trowse Swing Bridge would need to be overcome to facilitate this. [17]

Some services have been transferred from Greater Anglia's management to other rail operators. On 31 May 2015, the Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters) and Chingford services, as well as the Romford to Upminster service, were transferred to London Overground Rail Operations. [18] On the same day, the Liverpool Street to Shenfield stopping services were also transferred to the TfL Rail concession managed by MTR. [19]

In June 2015, an Abellio (60%) / Stagecoach (40%) joint venture, FirstGroup and National Express were shortlisted to bid for the franchise. [20] In December 2015, it was announced that Stagecoach had pulled out of the joint bid with Abellio, and that Abellio would continue the bid alone. [21] In August 2016, it was announced that Abellio had successfully retained the franchise until 2025. One commitment of the new franchise period is the purchase of 1,043 new carriages, 660 from Bombardier Transportation's Derby Litchurch Lane Works with the remainder being built by Stadler Rail. [22] [23] In January 2017, Abellio announced that, subject to gaining DfT approval, it had agreed to sell a 40% stake in the business to Mitsui. [24] The sale was completed in March 2017. [25] Reportedly, Greater Anglia has incorporated numerous planning and operational practices of the Japanese railways, such as the use of digital twin simulation software for analysing performance and developing its timetables, since the acquisition. [26]

In 2021, following the COVID-19 emergency measures, Greater Anglia was given a direct award contract, replacing its franchise agreement, expiring on 20 September 2026. [27]

In February 2023, Transport UK Group concluded a management buyout of Abellio's United Kingdom business, which included its share in Greater Anglia. [28] [29]

Industrial action

In August 2017, amidst a background of ongoing rail strikes on a national level, Greater Anglia conductors voted in favour of going on strike in a dispute over planned ticket office closures and the planned introduction of more widespread driver-only operation on the Greater Anglia network. [30] On numerous occasions since October 2017, industrial action has been taken by portions of the company's employees, and the principal matter of dispute has seen no effective resolution. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has accused Greater Anglia of conducting alleged strike-breaking tactics and claimed that its use of stand-in conductors led to passengers' safety being jeopardised. [31] [32] The dispute between Greater Anglia and the RMT continued into 2018, with further strikes threatened during the summer that affected around 40 per cent of the operator's services. [33]

On 19 July 2018, the RMT announced members had voted 9 to 1 to accept a deal that would keep guards on trains, [34] and halted the expansion of driver only operation. [35]

Greater Anglia is one of several train operators impacted by the 2022–2024 United Kingdom railway strikes, which are the first national rail strikes in the UK for three decades. [36] Its workers are amongst those who are participating in industrial action due to a dispute over pay and working conditions. [37]

Franchise commitments

Greater Anglia franchise (2012–2016)

A number of improvements were planned during the first franchise period (2012–2016) which included: [12]

East Anglia franchise (2016–2025)

The following improvements have been planned as part of the Abellio bid for the East Anglia franchise (2016–2025): [38]

Services

As of June 2024, the following services operate during the off-peak period, Monday to Friday: [41]

Inter-City

RoutetphCalling at
London Liverpool Street – Norwich 2
  • Services call at either Chelmsford, or Stratford and Stowmarket.

Great Eastern

Great Eastern Main Line
RoutetphCalling at
London Liverpool Street – Ipswich 1
Shenfield–Southend and Crouch Valley lines
RoutetphCalling at
London Liverpool Street – Southend Victoria 3
Wickford – Southminster 3⁄2
Braintree branch line
RoutetphCalling at
London Liverpool Street – Braintree 1
Gainsborough line
RoutetphCalling at
Marks Tey – Sudbury 1
Sunshine Coast Line
RoutetphCalling at
London Liverpool Street – Colchester Town 1
  • Stratford, Romford, Shenfield, Chelmsford, Witham, Kelvedon, Marks Tey, Colchester
London Liverpool Street – Clacton-on-Sea 1
Colchester – Colchester Town1Shuttle service
Colchester – Walton-on-the-Naze 1
Mayflower line
RoutetphCalling at
Manningtree – Harwich Town 1

West Anglia

West Anglia Main Line
RoutetphCalling at
Stratford – Meridian Water 2
Stratford – Bishop's Stortford 2
  • Trains alternate between serving Waltham Cross, or Northumberland Park, Enfield Lock, Roydon, and Harlow Mill.
Hertford East branch line
RoutetphCalling at
London Liverpool Street – Hertford East 2
London to Cambridge and Ely
RoutetphCalling at
London Liverpool Street – Cambridge North 2
  • Roydon, Harlow Mill, Sawbridgeworth, Stansted Mountfitchet, Elsenham, Newport, Great Chesterford, and Shelford are all served by the same trains.
London Liverpool Street - Ely 4tpdTottenham Hale, Cheshunt (1tpd), Broxbourne, Roydon (1tpd), Harlow Town (1tpd), Harlow Mill (1tpd), Sawbridgeworth (1tpd), Bishop's Stortford, Stansted Mountfitchet (1tpd), Elsenham (2tpd), Newport (2tpd), Audley End, Great Chesterford (2tpd), Whittlesford Parkway, Shelford (2tpd), Cambridge, Cambridge North (2tpd), Waterbeach
  • Monday – Friday only

Regional

Felixstowe branch line
RoutetphCalling at
Ipswich – Felixstowe 1
East Suffolk line
RoutetphCalling at
Ipswich – Lowestoft 1
Ipswich–Ely line
RoutetphCalling at
Ipswich – Cambridge1
  • Kennett and Dullingham are served by alternate trains.
Ipswich – Peterborough 1⁄2
Bittern Line
RoutetphCalling at
Norwich – Sheringham 1
  • Trains alternate between serving Worstead, or Salhouse, Gunton, and Roughton Road together.
Wherry Lines
RoutetphCalling at
Norwich – Great Yarmouth 1
  • Does not run when the service via Berney Arms below runs instead
2tpd
Norwich – Lowestoft1
  • Trains alternate between stoppers or only calling at Oulton Broad North
Breckland line
RoutetphCalling at
Norwich – Stansted Airport 1
  1. ↑ Pick up only northbound, set down only southbound
  2. 1 2 Trains reverse

Stansted Express

Greater Anglia operates the Stansted Express sub-branded airport rail link between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street. [42] As of June 2024, Stansted Express' off-peak services Monday to Friday are: [41]

RoutetphCalling at
London Liverpool Street - Stansted Airport 4
  • Services alternate between Harlow Town and Bishop's Stortford; with Stansted Mountfitchet being served by Harlow Town services.

    Performance

    Punctuality statistics released by Network Rail for service report period 7 of 2013–2014 (15 September – 13 October 2013) were 94.0% PPM (Public Performance Measure), down 1.0 percentage point on the same period ine the previous year, and the MAA (Moving Annual Average) up to 12 October 2013 also fell slightly to 92.3%. [43] In 2013, Abellio Greater Anglia was named train operator of the year. [44] However, a survey in February 2014 by the consumer group Which? found that customer satisfaction with Abellio Greater Anglia was at last place (out of 20 train operators) with a satisfaction percentage of 40%, [45] and in 2016 Abellio Greater Anglia was rated the fourth worst UK train operator with a commuter rail services satisfaction rating of 35%. [46]

    Forecasts issued during the mid-2010s predicted that demand on the GEML into London from Suffolk and Norfolk was expected to grow by 32 per cent, while demand from Essex was to go up by 52 per cent. [17] This prediction was in spite of the relatively low levels of subsidies provided for Greater Anglia's operations, and the general lack of improvements in prior years; according to industry periodical Rail, it was the second least subsidised passenger operator by 2015. [17]

    Rolling stock

    Greater Anglia inherited a fleet of Class 90, Mark 3 carriages and Driving Van Trailers; Class 153, Class 156 and Class 170 diesel multiple units; and Class 315, Class 317, Class 321, Class 360 and Class 379 electric multiple units from National Express East Anglia. Due to its short initial franchise term, Greater Anglia was not planning to introduce any new trains, [47] although this policy changed substantially following the start of its second franchise term in October 2016.

    In November 2013, an online petition was launched, aimed at stopping Greater Anglia's trains from dumping raw sewage from the train toilets directly onto the tracks. [48] There were also concerns with the 'sewage mist' from passing trains making Network Rail staff ill; Greater Anglia announced it was "working closely" with the government to introduce a fleet upgrade. [49] By October 2016, all the franchise's Mark 3 carriages and Class 156 multiple units had been refitted with controlled emission toilets. [50]

    On 31 May 2015, the company's fleet of Class 315 trains were cascaded to London Overground and TfL Rail; in addition, some Class 317 trains were cascaded to London Overground, which took over local services in North and East London from the Greater Anglia franchise. [18]

    In August 2016, it was announced that 1,043 new carriages would be purchased, which would allow for all of the ageing stock to be replaced. This was especially necessary given that a number of coaches were not compliant with accessibility requirements beyond 2020 and they would not be able to meet Abellio's new targets for lower journey times without extensive modification. [51] [52] One part of the contract went to Bombardier with nearly £1 billion to build 111 Bombardier Aventra electric multiple units and the other part of the purchase went to Stadler to build 58 FLIRT electric multiple units, all of which would enter service between August 2019 and September 2020. [23] [38] [53]

    Bombardier's order included all 111 Class 720 units for taking over local and commuter services out of Liverpool Street. [54] Stadler's order included 20 twelve-carriage Class 745 units to operate inter-city services on the Great Eastern Main Line and the Stansted Express [55] as well as 38 three- and four-carriage Class 755 units for taking over all local diesel services from the previous outdated rolling stock. [56] By July 2020, all Class 755 trains had entered passenger service.[ citation needed ]

    The first unit of the new order to enter service was from the Class 755 fleet, of which the first entered service on 29 July 2019 on the Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft route. [57] The next of the order was the Class 745/0 fleet, of which the first entered service on 8 January 2020 on the Great Eastern Main Line operating services between Norwich and Liverpool Street. [58] Following the introduction of these units, the Class 90 hauled sets were all withdrawn from service, with the last set running its last journeys on 24 March 2020. [59]

    In March 2020, testing of the new Class 720 fleet finally began and continued despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in order to allow the first unit to enter service within the next few months. [60] [61] In June 2020, the units were authorised to enter passenger service and, after further testing and crew training, the first two units finally entered service on 26 November 2020 as a pairing on the Shenfield to Southend Line. [62] [63]

    Class 360s began moving to Kings Heath TMD in Northampton in June 2020 for modifications by Siemens to make them capable of 110 mph speeds, in preparation for their transfer to East Midlands Railway (EMR). [64] Due to delays in commissioning the Class 720s and to allow the Class 360s to be released, three Class 321/9s and five Class 322s, last used by Northern Trains, were leased from July 2020. [65] [66] The first unit bound for EMR, 360120, moved to Cricklewood depot on 10 November 2020, with all having transferred by February 2021. [67]

    Due to high leasing costs, the fleet of 30 Class 379 Electrostar EMUs was withdrawn and sent to storage in February 2022. [68]

    On 1 August 2022, Greater Anglia confirmed that all West Anglia services were now operated by Class 720 Aventra units. [69]

    Greater Anglia withdrew its Class 321 fleet at the end of April 2023. [70]

    Current fleet

    FamilyClassImageTypeTop speedNumberCarriagesRoutes operatedBuilt
    mphkm/h
    Shunting locomotive
    08 [71] N/A Shunter 15243N/AStock movements1952–1962
    Electric multiple units
    Bombardier Aventra 720/1 Class 720 540 & 538 at Liverpool Street.jpg EMU 100161445
    		2018–2021
    720/5 89
    GA Class 720.png
    Stadler FLIRT 745/0 745 009 Colchester with 09.14 to Liverpool St.jpg 1012
    		2018-2020
    Class 745-0.png
    745/1 1012
    		2018-2020
    Class 745-1.png
    Bi-mode multiple units
    Stadler FLIRT 755/3
    755/4     		2 Class 755s at Norwich Station.jpg
    755407AtThetford.jpg     		BMU 10016114 [72] 3 [72]
    		2018–2020
    244
    GA Class 755 3 new.png
    GA Class 755 4.png

    Past fleet

    Former train types operated by Greater Anglia include:

    FamilyClassImageTypeTop speedCarsNumberBuiltRoutes operated
    mphkm/h
    Locomotive hauled stock
    37 Class 37 37194.jpg Diesel locomotive 80130N/A41960–1965 Wherry Lines
    Stadler UKLight 68 Marylebone - DRS 68008 (Chiltern 172104).JPG 10016132013–2017
    Mark 2 Direct Rail Services Mark 2e TSO 5787 at Norwich.JPG Carriage 131963–1975
    90 90002 at Ipswich (31227986510).jpg Electric locomotive 1101779151987–1990 Great Eastern Main Line
    Mark 3 Mk3 Standard Open 12110.jpg Carriage 1252011301975–1988
    Driving Van Trailer Stowmarket - Greater Anglia 82107.JPG Control car 151988–1990
    Diesel multiple units
    Super Sprinter 153 153306 and 153309 at Great Yarmouth.jpg DMU 75121151991–1992 Wherry Lines
    Breckland line
    Bittern Line
    East Suffolk line
    Felixstowe branch line
    Ipswich–Ely line
    Gainsborough line
    156 Bitten Line Train Beeston Regis .JPG 291987–1988
    Bombardier Turbostar 170/2 Needham Market - Greater Anglia 170272 Ipswich train.JPG 100161242002
    381999
    Stowmarket - Greater Anglia 170205 Ipswich train.JPG Class 170 Greater Anglia 2 Car Updated Livery.png

    Class 170 Greater Anglia 3 Car Updated Livery.png

    Electric multiple units
    BREL 1972 315 Romford railway station MMB 15 315803.jpg EMU 751214611980–1981 Shenfield Metro
    Lea Valley lines
    Romford–Upminster line
    315GA.png
    BR Second Generation (Mark 3) 317/1 317345 at Cambridge 2.jpg 1001614101981–1982London to Cambridge North and Ely
    Hertford East branch line
    West Anglia Main Line
    317/5 317512 Passes Bethnal Green by Joshua Brown.jpg 71981–1982London to Cambridge North and Ely
    Hertford East branch line
    West Anglia Main Line
    317/6 317667 at Cheshunt.jpg 241985–1987London to Cambridge North and Ely
    Hertford East branch line
    West Anglia Main Line
    317/7 317708 at Seven Sisters.jpg 91981–1982 Lea Valley lines
    317/8 London Overground Class 317 at Rectory Road June 2019.jpg 9
    Class 317 Greater Anglia Diagram.png
    321 321344 at Colchester.jpg 1001614891988–1991 Braintree branch line
    Crouch Valley line
    Dutchflyer
    Great Eastern Main Line
    Mayflower line
    Shenfield–Southend line
    Sunshine Coast Line
    Class 321 New Greater Anglia Diagram.png
    322 322485 Leeds.jpg 100161451990
    Class 321 & 322 GA.png
    Siemens Desiro 360/1 360101 at a Frosty Manningtree.jpg 1101774212002–2003 Braintree branch line
    Dutchflyer
    Great Eastern Main Line
    Mayflower line
    Sunshine Coast Line
    GA Class 360 1 w-pantograph.png
    Bombardier Electrostar 379 Tottenham Hale BR station 20161116 091106 (40816506833).jpg 1001604302010–2011London to Cambridge North and Ely
    Stansted Express
    West Anglia Main Line
    GA Class 379 w-pantograph.png

    Depots

    Greater Anglia's fleet is maintained at Clacton-on-Sea, Ilford and Crown Point depots. [73]

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    References

    1. ↑ "The distorted rolling stock market". Modern Railways . No. 900. September 2023. p. 38.
    2. ↑ "Greater Anglia". National Rail Enquiries. National Rail. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
    3. ↑ "Companies House extract company no 7861414: Abellio East Anglia Limited". companieshouse.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
    4. ↑ "Three rail firms to be renationalised next year". BBC News. BBC News . Retrieved 4 December 2024.
    5. ↑ "National Express Group Announced as Preferred Bidder for new Greater Anglia Franchise" (Press release). Strategic Rail Authority. 22 December 2003. Archived from the original on 4 January 2004.
    6. ↑ "National Express wins rail franchise" . The Daily Telegraph. London. 22 December 2003. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
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    Preceded by Operator of Greater Anglia franchise
    2012–2016    		Succeeded by
    Greater Anglia
    East Anglia franchise
    Preceded by
    Abellio Greater Anglia
    Greater Anglia franchise
    		 Operator of East Anglia franchise
    2016 –2026    		Incumbent
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