National Express East Anglia

Last updated

National Express East Anglia
NXEA.svg
90015 at Liverpool Street.jpg
Class 90 at London Liverpool Street in 2008
Overview
Franchise(s) Greater Anglia
1 April 2004 – 4 February 2012
Main region(s) East of England
Other region(s) London, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire
Stations called at168
Parent company National Express
Reporting mark LE [1]
Successor Greater Anglia
Other
Website www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com
Route map
National Express East Anglia route map 2010.svg

National Express East Anglia [2] (NXEA) was a train operating company in England owned by National Express that operated the Greater Anglia franchise from April 2004 until February 2012. Originally trading as One, it was rebranded National Express East Anglia in February 2008. It provided local, suburban and express services from London Liverpool Street to destinations in Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk in the East of England.

Contents

History

One liveried Class 90 at Liverpool Street station in March 2007 90001 Liverpool Street.jpg
One liveried Class 90 at Liverpool Street station in March 2007
Class 156 at Marks Tey in March 2008 156419 at Marks Tey.jpg
Class 156 at Marks Tey in March 2008
One liveried Class 315 at Hackney Downs station in August 2007 Hugh llewelyn 315 820 (6311840566).jpg
One liveried Class 315 at Hackney Downs station in August 2007
Class 321 at Liverpool Street station 321311 NatEx East Anglia LST.JPG
Class 321 at Liverpool Street station
Class 379 in Norwich in January 2011 379001 at Norwich 8 January 2011.jpg
Class 379 in Norwich in January 2011

When the British Rail services operating out of London Liverpool Street were privatised in January 1997, they were divided up between three train operating companies, Anglia Railways, First Great Eastern and West Anglia Great Northern.

In December 2001, the Strategic Rail Authority announced it planned to combine all of the services operating out of London Liverpool Street into one Greater Anglia franchise. [3] [ full citation needed ] [4]

In April 2003, the Strategic Rail Authority announced Arriva, GB Railways and National Express had been shortlisted to bid for the new franchise. [5] In December 2003, the franchise was awarded to National Express with all the services operated by Anglia Railways and First Great Eastern along with those out of London Liverpool Street by West Anglia Great Northern, transferring to One on 1 April 2004. [6] [7] The franchise was to run until March 2011, with provision for a three-year extension if performance targets were met.

One

The area names from the former franchises were initially retained as sub-brands by the new franchise, One Anglia, One Great Eastern and One West Anglia, however other than Stansted Express all services were soon branded as just One, reflecting the union of the three smaller franchises into one single franchise. This led to passenger confusion as they were unable to establish if announcements were for the 07:20 One service, or the 07:21 service resulting in the company's name being omitted from announcements. [8] [ full citation needed ]

National Express East Anglia

In February 2008, as part of a group wide rebranding exercise, the franchise was redesignated again. This time it became National Express East Anglia. [9] [10]

In November 2009, the Department for Transport announced National Express would not be granted the three-year extension that it had met the criteria for, because of it defaulting on the National Express East Coast franchise. [11] [12]

Following a change of government at the 2010 General Election, the Department for Transport announced all refranchising would be put on hold while a review was conducted into the franchising process. [13] [14] As a result, National Express were granted an initial extension until October 2011, followed by another until February 2012. [15]

After February 2012 the trains were run by Greater Anglia a subsidiary of Nederlandse Spoorwegen.

Services

In addition to its domestic services, the company was also a partner with Stena Line and Nederlandse Spoorwegen in the Dutchflyer service. Most of the London services use Liverpool Street as their terminus.

Former Anglia franchise

Former Great Eastern franchise

Former West Anglia Great Northern franchise

For eight weeks in summer 2004, Ipswich tunnel was closed with One running two Norwich to Liverpool Street services via Cambridge with Cotswold Rail Class 47s. [16]

In December 2004 new services were introduced from Liverpool Street to Lowestoft (via East Suffolk Line or Norwich), Peterborough, Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge via Ipswich. [17] However, in December 2010 these services become withdrawn. [18]

The Liverpool Street to Harwich International Boat Trains used to be operated by Class 86s and Mark 2s, however EMUs took over the service. [19] [ full citation needed ]

Rolling stock

One inherited a fleet of Class 86, Mark 2 carriages, Driving Brake Standard Opens, Class 150, Class 153 and Class 170 Turbostar, Class 312, Class 315, Class 317, Class 321 and Class 360s from Anglia Railways, First Great Eastern and West Anglia Great Northern.

A franchise commitment was the replacement of the Class 86s and Mark 2 carriages with Class 90s and Mark 3 carriages that were being replaced by Virgin Trains with the Class 390 Pendolino. Initially the Mark 3s entered service in the same run-down condition in which they had left Virgin, before all were overhauled at Bombardier Transportation's Derby Litchurch Lane Works. The last Class 86s and Mark 2 carriages were withdrawn in late 2006.

In 2005, the Class 150s were exchanged with nine Class 156s from Central Trains. In 2009, National Express East Anglia received 17 Class 321s transferred from London Midland.

Another franchise commitment was the procurement of new stock for the Stansted Express service. This resulted in 30 four-carriage Class 379 Electrostars being ordered; the first entered service in March 2011. [20]

A Class 47 was hired from Cotswold Rail for use on rescue duties and to haul the initial weekday and later Summer Saturday only services from Norwich to Great Yarmouth. After Cotswold ceased trading in 2009, Direct Rail Services Class 47s were hired. DB Schenker often provided Class 90s to cover for unavailability of One's fleet.

Fleet at start of franchise

ClassImageTypeTop speedNumberBuiltWithdrawnInherited from
mphkm/h
47 47818 at Cambridge.JPG Diesel locomotive 95153Hired from
Cotswold Rail 		1962–19682009 [lower-alpha 1] N/A
86 86227 'Golden Jubilee' at Ipswich.JPG Electric locomotive 100161151965–19662005 Anglia Railways
150/2 Sprinter 150245 at Cambridge.JPG DMU 75121101984–19872005 [lower-alpha 2]
153 Super Sprinter 153335 'Michael Palin' at Cambridge.JPG 7512171987–19882 in 2005 [lower-alpha 2]
170/2 Turbostar NXEA170202.JPG 100161121999–2002N/A
312 312718 and 312721 at Kirby Cross.JPG EMU 9014531975–19782004 [lower-alpha 3] First Great Eastern
315 315833 D Liverpool Street.JPG 75121611980–1981N/A First Great Eastern & WAGN
317/1 317316 at Cambridge.JPG 100161271981–19822006 [lower-alpha 4] WAGN
317/6 Class 317.jpg 100161241985–1987N/A
317/7 317719 NatEx East Anglia LST.JPG 10016191981–19822012 [lower-alpha 5]
321 321359 C Norwich.JPG 100161771988–1990N/A First Great Eastern
360/1 Desiro 360109 at Marks Tey.jpg 100161212002–2003N/A
Mark 2 carriage Mk 2F TSO 6035 at Carlisle.JPG Passenger carriage 1001611151964–19752005 Anglia Railways
Rail-DBSO-9710-amoswolfe.jpg DBSO 100161131979–19862006
  1. ↑ Hired from Direct Rail Services after cessation of Cotswold Rail.
  2. 1 2 Exchanged for Central Trains Class 156s in 2005
  3. ↑ Withdrawn immediately after start of franchise
  4. ↑ Converted to 317/5 & 317/8.
  5. ↑ Withdrawn at end of franchise

Fleet at end of franchise

ClassImageCars per setTypeTop speedNumberRoutes operatedBuilt
mphkm/h
47 Stobart Pullman hauled by DRS 47712 photo 1.jpg N/A Diesel locomotive 95153Hired from
Direct Rail Services 		Train Rescue
Norwich - Great Yarmouth
(Summer Only),
Norwich - Lowestoft
(Summer Only) 		1962–1968
90 90008 at Norwich.jpg Electric locomotive 11017715 London - Norwich 1987–1990
153 Super Sprinter Felixstowe - National Express 153314 departing.jpg 1 DMU 751215 Ipswich - Felixstowe,
Norwich - Great Yarmouth,
Norwich - Lowestoft,
Sudbury - Marks Tey 		1987–1988
156 Super Sprinter 156419 at Sudbury 1.jpg 2751219 Ipswich - Saxmundham,
Norwich - Great Yarmouth,
Norwich - Lowestoft,
Norwich - Sheringham,
Sudbury - Marks Tey 		1987–1989
170/2 Turbostar NXEA170202.JPG 2 or 310016112 Ipswich - Cambridge,
Ipswich - Peterborough,
Ipswich - Lowestoft,
Norwich - Cambridge 		1999–2002
315 Unit 315838 at Ilford.JPG 4 EMU 7512161 London - Shenfield,
London - Hertford East
(Peak Hours and Weekends only)
London - Enfield Town,
London - Cheshunt
London - Chingford 		1980–1981
317/5 NXEA 317506 Liverpool Street AB1.JPG 10016115 London - Stansted Airport,
London - Cambridge,
London - Hertford East,
London - Chingford,
London - Enfield Town
Stratford - Bishop Stortford 		1981–1982
317/6 317672 at Bethnal Green.jpg 10016124 London - Stansted Airport,
London - Cambridge,
London - Hertford East,
London - Chingford,
London - Enfield Town
Stratford - Bishop Stortford,
Romford - Upminster 		1985–1987
317/7 317719 NatEx East Anglia LST.JPG 1001619
(Withdrawn when
franchise ended)		 London - Stansted Airport,
London - Cambridge,
London - Chingford
London - Hertford East,
London - Enfield Town
London - Norwich,
London - Harwich International 		1981–1982
317/8 317881 at Stratford.jpg 4 EMU 10016112 London - Stansted Airport,
London - Cambridge,
London - Hertford East,
London - Chingford, London - Enfield Town
Stratford - Bishop Stortford 		1981–1982
321 321311 NatEx East Anglia LST.JPG 10016194 London - Braintree,
London - Ipswich,
London - Southend Victoria,
London - Clacton,
Colchester - Walton-on-Naze,
Manningtree - Harwich,
Wickford - Southminster 		1988–1990
360/1 Desiro Class 360 118 desiro in nxea at liverpoolstreet.jpg 10016121 London - Ipswich,
London - Clacton,
London - Colchester Town 		2002–2003
379 Electrostar New Class 379, 379029, National Express emu at Cambridge. - panoramio.jpg 10016130 London - Stansted Airport
London - Cambridge 		2010–2011
Mark 3 carriage National express East Anglia Mark 3A RFM 10247.JPG N/A Passenger carriage 110177120 London - Norwich
Norwich - Great Yarmouth
(Summer Only),
Norwich - Lowestoft
(Summer Only) 		1975–1988
Hugh llewelyn hugh llewelyn 82 118 (5605531385).jpg Driving Van Trailer 110177151988

Diagrams

Class 315:

315NXEA.png
315One.png

Class 321:

Class 321 National Express East Anglia Diagram.PNG

Class 360:

Class 360 National Express East Anglia Diagram.PNG

Class 379:

National Express East Anglia class 379 unbranded.png

Performance

Infrastructure problems have affected performance. According to Network Rail, the main problems have been track-circuit failures, broken rails, track faults, points failures and overhead line equipment (OLE) failures. [21] Network Rail, which is responsible for the infrastructure, intended to improve performance by work carried out during a planned closure of London Liverpool Street station over Christmas and New Year 2007/8. This allowed much of the outer London overhead line equipment to be replaced by modern, self-tensioning lines. [21] The work was carried out, but overran at short notice by some 24 hours, causing ridicule in the national press. [22]

Detailed figures (from the January edition of Modern Railways) of the miles covered per 5-minute delay for the year ending October 2009 showed that the most reliable trains in the fleet were again the Class 360 Desiros (mainly Clacton-on-Sea to London Liverpool Street), which achieved over 38,000 miles per five-minute delay. The 'workhorse' Class 321s by comparison returned some 21,500 miles per five-minute delay, while the 'Inter-City' Class 90 locomotive-hauled Norwich - Liverpool Street trains came in at some 14,000 miles per five-minute delay - this last figure being a 35% improvement on last year's 10,400. The Class 90 locomotives won the Silver Spanner award for InterCity rolling stock at the Annual National Rail Awards 2009.

Demise

In March 2011, the Department for Transport announced Abellio, Go-Ahead, and Stagecoach had been shortlisted to bid for the new Greater Anglia franchise. [23] In October 2011, the new franchise was awarded to Abellio with the services operated by National Express East Anglia transferring to Greater Anglia on 5 February 2012. [24] [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglia Railways</span> 1997–2004 East Anglian train operating company

Anglia Railways was a train operating company in England, owned by GB Railways and later FirstGroup, that operated the Anglia franchise from January 1997 until March 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Eastern Main Line</span> Principal railway route in eastern England

The Great Eastern Main Line is a 114.5-mile (184.3 km) major railway line on the British railway system which connects Liverpool Street station in central London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Shenfield, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Its numerous branches also connect the main line to Southminster, Braintree, Sudbury, Harwich and a number of coastal towns including Southend-on-Sea, Clacton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze and Lowestoft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stansted Express</span> Direct train service linking London Liverpool Street to London Stansted Airport

The Stansted Express is a direct train service linking London Liverpool Street to London Stansted Airport. It is a sub-brand of Greater Anglia, the current franchise operator of the East Anglia franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chadwell Heath railway station</span> Railway station in London, England

Chadwell Heath railway station is a stop on the Great Eastern Main Line in Chadwell Heath, which straddles the London Boroughs of Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham in East London, England. It is 9 miles 79 chains (16.1 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and is situated between Goodmayes and Romford. Its three-letter station code is CTH and it is in Travelcard Zone 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 317</span> British electric passenger trains

The British Rail Class 317 is an electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train constructed by British Rail Engineering Limited in two batches: 48 sets were produced in 1981–82 and 24 sets in 1985–87. They were the first of several classes of British Rail EMU to be based on the all-steel Mark 3 bodyshell, departing from the PEP-aluminium design which had spawned the earlier Class 313 to Class 315, Class 507 and Class 508. The Mark 3 bodyshell was also the basis of Class 318, Class 455 and the diesel Class 150. The Class 317 uses overhead alternating current electrification. All units were withdrawn in July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven Kings railway station</span> National Rail station in Ilford, England

Seven Kings railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line, serving the district of Seven Kings in the London Borough of Redbridge, east London. It is 8 miles 46 chains (13.8 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and is situated between Ilford and Goodmayes. Its three-letter station code is SVK and it is in Travelcard Zone 4. The station was opened on 1 March 1899 by the Great Eastern Railway. It is currently managed by the Elizabeth line, which operates services between Shenfield and Heathrow Terminal 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norwich railway station</span> Railway station in Norwich, England

Norwich railway station is the northern terminus of the Great Eastern Main Line in the East of England, serving the cathedral city of Norwich, Norfolk. It is 114 miles 77 chains (185.0 km) down the main line from London Liverpool Street, the western terminus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Anglia Main Line</span> Mainline railway line in East Anglia, England

The West Anglia Main Line is one of the two main line railways that operate out of Liverpool Street. It runs generally north through Cheshunt, Broxbourne, Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and Audley End to Cambridge, with branches between serving Stratford, Hertford and Stansted Airport. The line runs along the boundary between Hertfordshire and Essex for much of its length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ipswich railway station</span> Railway station in Suffolk, England

Ipswich railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line in the East of England, serving the town of Ipswich, Suffolk. It is 68 miles 59 chains (110.6 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and, on the main line, it is situated between Manningtree to the south and Needham Market to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridge railway station</span> Railway station in Cambridge, England

Cambridge railway station is the principal station serving the city of Cambridge in the east of England. It stands at the end of Station Road, 1 mile (1.6 km) south-east of the city centre. It is the northern terminus of the West Anglia Main Line, 55 miles 52 chains (89.6 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street, the southern terminus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stowmarket railway station</span> Grade II listed railway station in Suffolk, England

Stowmarket railway station is a stop on the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) in the East of England, serving the market town of Stowmarket, Suffolk. The station is 80 miles 9 chains (128.9 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street; it is situated between Needham Market to the south and Diss to the north. It is also the junction where the Ipswich to Ely Line joins the GEML. Its three-letter station code is SMK. The station is operated by Greater Anglia, which also runs all trains that serve the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 315</span> Class of 61 British 4-car electric multiple units

The British Rail Class 315 is a fleet of alternating current (AC) electric multiple unit (EMU) trains, built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road Carriage Works in York between 1980 and 1981; they replaced the Class 306 units. It was a variant of unit derived from British Rail's 1971 prototype suburban EMU design which, as the BREL 1972 family, eventually encompassed 755 vehicles across Classes 313, 314, 315, 507 and 508. Revenue services with Class 315 units commenced in 1980 and continued until December 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wymondham railway station</span> Railway station in Norfolk, England

Wymondham railway station is a stop on the Breckland Line in the East of England, serving the market town of Wymondham, Norfolk. The line runs between Cambridge in the west and Norwich in the east. It is situated between Spooner Row and Norwich, 113 miles 72 chains (183.3 km) from London Liverpool Street via Ely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thetford railway station</span> Railway station in Norfolk, England

Thetford railway station is on the Breckland line in the east of England, serving the market town of Thetford, Norfolk. The line runs between Cambridge in the west and Norwich in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diss railway station</span> Railway station in Norfolk, England

Diss railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line in the East of England, serving the market town of Diss, Norfolk. It is 94 miles 43 chains (152.1 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and is situated between Stowmarket to the south and Norwich to the north. It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Norwich. Its three-letter station code is DIS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon railway station</span> Railway station in Norfolk, England, United Kingdom

Brandon railway station is on the Breckland Line in the East of England, serving the town of Brandon, Suffolk, although the station is actually situated across the county boundary in Norfolk. The line runs between Cambridge in the west and Norwich in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Anglia</span> British train operating company

Greater Anglia 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TfL Rail</span> Two former commuter railway lines serving London, Essex, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire

TfL Rail was the concession which operated commuter services on two separate railway lines in London, England and its environs whilst the Crossrail construction project linking these lines was underway. It ran from 2015 until May 2022, upon the opening of the Crossrail central section, when TfL Rail was rebranded as Elizabeth line and the name was discontinued.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Anglia franchise</span> British passenger railway franchise

The East Anglia franchise is a railway franchise for passenger trains on the Great Eastern Main Line and West Anglia Main Lines in England. It commenced operating in April 2004 when the Anglia and Great Eastern franchises, together with the West Anglia part of the West Anglia Great Northern franchise, were combined to form the Greater Anglia franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 745</span> Electric multiple unit train

The British Rail Class 745 FLIRT is a class of electric multiple unit passenger train, built by Stadler as part of the FLIRT family. The class is built for Greater Anglia for use on their inter-city services and the Stansted Express services. They first entered service on 8 January 2020, after being constructed between 2018 and 2020 in Switzerland.

References

  1. ↑ "National Express East Anglia". National Rail Enquiries. National Rail. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Companies House extract company no 4955356 London Eastern Railway Limited
  3. ↑ Rail Magazine . No. 426. 9 January 2002. p. 4.{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ "SRA Starts Process To Facilitate New Greater Anglia Franchise" (Press release). Strategic Rail Authority. 27 March 2002.
  5. ↑ "Group shocked as rail bid fails". 1 April 2003.
  6. ↑ National Express Group Announced as Preferred Bidder for new Greater Anglia Franchise Strategic Rail Authority 22 December 2003
  7. ↑ "National Express wins rail franchise". The Daily Telegraph . 22 December 2003.
  8. ↑ Rail Magazine . No. 488. 26 May 2004. p. 11.{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ New Identity for National Express Group Archived 8 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine National Express Group plc 15 November 2007
  10. ↑ Rail company rebrands as National Express Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Eastern Daily Press (Norwich) 27 February 2008
  11. ↑ "National Express loses East Anglia rail franchise". BBC News. 26 November 2009.
  12. ↑ Millward, David (26 November 2009). "National Express loses East Anglia franchise three years early". The Daily Telegraph .
  13. ↑ Rail Franchising Department for Transport 17 June 2010
  14. ↑ "Franchise replacements put on hold by Department for Transport". RailNews. Stevenage. 18 June 2010.
  15. ↑ Osborne, Alistair (15 September 2010). "National Express wins extension to East Anglia rail franchise". The Daily Telegraph .
  16. ↑ The Blockade sulzerpower.com September 2004
  17. ↑ Rail Magazine issue 502 8 December 2004 page 34
  18. ↑ Summer 2009 Newsletter Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association
  19. ↑ Rail Magazine . No. 503. 22 December 2004. p. 9.{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ "National Express unveils first new Class 379 Train at preview event" (Press release). National Express. 13 October 2010. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
  21. 1 2 Network Rail - Route Plans 2007: Route 7 Great Eastern Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine pp. 4-5
  22. ↑ Jameson, Angela (3 January 2008). "Hamfisted handling of delays adds to the pain". The Times. London.[ dead link ]
  23. ↑ Shortlisted Bidders for Greater Anglia and Intercity West Coast Rail Franchises Archived 6 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine Department for Transport 24 March 2011
  24. ↑ Greater Anglia rail franchise Department for Transport 20 October 2011
  25. ↑ "Abellio has been awarded the Greater Anglia franchise" (Press release). Abellio. 20 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to National Express East Anglia at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
Anglia Railways
InterCity Anglia franchise
 Operator of Greater Anglia franchise
2004 – 2012		Succeeded by
Preceded by
First Great Eastern
Great Eastern franchise
Preceded by
West Anglia Great Northern
West Anglia Great Northern franchise
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.