Greater Anglia New Class 745 Intercity Trains

Last year, Greater Anglia introduced new Stadler trains on their regional routes - now the new electric only Intercity variant running between London Liverpool Street and Norwich is being introduced into service!
Greater Anglia invited me to take a trip and ride on the new train - my thanks to them. There are currently two sets/diagrams in service, and more are slowly being introduced.
20 'Class 745' units are being introduced, a slightly different version will operate on the Stansted Express route which will have no first class, and more luggage space.
See the Class 755 video here: • The New 'FLIRT' Class ...
With thanks to Dominic for the additional photos.

[@MyStupidOrange]

Absolutely should do a vid about accessibility. Would be super interesting for the abled bodied of us to provide a new perspective

[@ClarinoI]

And the floor looks cleaner and more spacious for when you want to do a photo op.

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

And useful for those of us not able bodied to try and encourage us onto the trains

[@JISJ1964]

Especially if Geoff got to borrow a wheel-chair he too to try to follow the companion.

[@domsusefulstuff]

I agree 100%

[@librarian16]

I'm not a wheelchair user but I do have to use a Rollator, which my family call my pushchair, to let me walk without falling over. I found out on Saturday that it won't go through the corridor connection on a class 377. There is just about an inch less space than is needed.

[@lore3098]

The doors are probably placed there to limit the amount of cold/warm air getting into the carriages with the doors open

[@ce9934]

That's a good idea, however it's not going to be particularly pleasant at peak times when people are stood/sitting in that area. They'll be freezing or baking, as I can only presume there is no separate heater or AC unit for such a small area.

[@lore3098]

@@ce9934 But that's the case with any trains, it's gonna be cold near the doors. At least with this system the cold is not gonna spread as much to people who are sitting down and the heating/ventilating system can work more efficiently.

[@ce9934]

@@lore3098 Yes, definitely. Overall it's a positive step, however there will just be poor air circulation in the summer especially when the train has a fair distance to the next stop - like between Liverpool St and Colchester.

[@tommercer1406]

I thought it would be fire safety

[@leothompson2777]

@@tommercer1406 It's a sliding door. I've sat through the bloody fire safety training at work enough times to know that can't be a fire door (could I tell you where the fire extinguishers are though? Urrrm...). The less automatic doors the better in an emergency as well! This is definitely air conditioning efficiency (no opening windows, obvs) rather than safety design.

[@CallingAllStations]

Going to miss the 90 sets to Norwich! Forget the doors it’s all about the proper squishy seats for me!

[@cactustown5237]

No the doors are what makes them special. The seats are good, but the doors are better.

[@The_New_IKB]

MK3 seats are so comfy! and fiddling with the door handles was a part of the fun of a train ride!

[@robtyman4281]

Anyone else fed up with the new 'ironing board' style seats in all the new trains now? ... they are ok for commuter routes in London or short distance, but not suitable for longer distance routes. People are paying so much for a ticket now, and they should expect to get a comfortable seat included in this very high price.

[@derekstuart5234]

@@robtyman4281 I'm trying to work out if it's due to the padding being so thin or them being so ergonomically poor. Travel Euston to Glasgow on a pendolino- the seats are as bad- you can't get to sleep in them, like you would on a MK3 or a National Express coach or even the passenger seat of a car.

[@donovanemery597]

I used them on the Manchester to London Euston line

[@OltonHall]

I'm way too self conscious to film inside trains so more power to you Geoff for overcoming that.

[@yarrer22]

I was on it on my trip from Norwich down to London... As a visitor from Hong Kong, I'm so lucky to be on this train :P A really modern and comfortable experience

[@FK-qh3mm]

Nice! Do Hong Kong have different experience trains?

[@tornadoyeti]

And the high speed bullet train to Beijing...

[@NationalistsRuinAmerica]

Stephen Harris ...is Chinese.

[@stephenc6648]

I travelled on an HST between Leicester and Nottingham last week. The (youngish and foreign) passenger in front of me thought I was doing it as a joke when I reached out of the window to operate the handle.

[@isaactimmins8959]

had that travelling into derby a couple looking for the button I've neever been so smug leanging through & opening the door. then walking down the platform I opened the door from the outside for mmore myistified passengers.

[@yorkshirewanderer6176]

I travel between Nottingham and London every week and find it quite alarming that people just stand looking at the doors even though there are signs clearly telling people to lean out to open the doors. Its not just the young people or foreign travellers either.

[@darasafvatnia234]

It’s people like that who ruin it for all us slam door lovers

[@stephenc6648]

@@OneKnifeYeHand I vaguely remember there was a spate of people falling out of HSTs in the 80s or 90s. Locks were eventually fitted to prevent opening the doors while moving. Imagine being able to open from the inside at full speed.

[@sethanix3969]

@@stephenc6648 that why virtually everyone else in europe uses mechanicaly interlocked inner handles since the mid of the 50s - train moves greater than x (generally around 7 km/h) -> inner doorhandly is mechanically disconnected from the lock itself. Only the UK is doing it's own thing (again :P)

[@utaamtrak9584]

In the rest of the world it's very common for there not to be a close door buttons. The door is either closed automatically after a certain amount of time or the driver closes them. These are also part of the Flirt fleet by Stadler. Because of that I've noticed all sorts of little details that are common across the world in these trains for example, the emergency alarms look like the ones from Germany.

[@AAeolian]

for a future video with Dominic, would be interesting to see from his perspective what other able-bodied passengers can do to not be an inconvenience. The kind of things that we dont really consider (apart from the obvious standing in wheelchair spaces etc)

[@01dazolympia]

I absolutely love you videos.Left London 7 years ago to move to Barcelona and when I miss it I watch your videos to give me a taste of home.

[@christianl1653]

I live nearly of STADLER's hedquarter and factory (thurgau Switzerland) and saw these trains many times on track - maybe waiting for test drive oder delivering. Nice to see them in Service now!

[@lyledal]

I'd really enjoy seeing a video with you and Dominic. That sounds really interesting!

[@therealvbw]

Favourite new trains by far! Love these, very happy to see them still being rolled out!

[@co_smo]

Stadler just won the Tyne and Wear Metro contract too, 42 new trains they'll be making:) Got to say, I'm more and more impressed by Stadler the more I see their trains. Going to be interesting to see what the Class 777 will be like, given that'll probably be the best "preview" of the new TWM fleet :)

[@jonathanirons231]

Thank you Geoff for the visibility you give to accessibility issues. It's truly commendable. Please do keep up the good work! Accessibility and the lack of it are a *choice*. We can choose to be better.

[@brianjrichman]

Twenty years ago, I used to live for a while out in East Anglia. I sure do miss those old trains rattling and rolling all the way out to Norwich. "A Fine City".

[@trainsandtrams2020]

It's nice to see more Stadler trains making their new home in the UK, though I now these IC units have had some technical issues during the commissioning phase. As always, your format of doing these films is fun, laid back and informative. Thnx!

[@marcofunari9683]

Stadler trains everywhere . Here in Italy we know these products since 2005, when the scenic railway Merano-Malles Venosta was reopened after long time and completely renewed . Stadler trains gave a strong contribution to the success of this operation and every year more than 1.7 milion passengers step on an electro-diesel GTW ( many with bikes ) : they are smooth , comfortable , spacious , easy to access , perfect to enjoy the marvelous panorama the line pass through . Year after year , the flot of operating Stadler trains in Italy became greater and greater and till now 12 companies have bought from Stadler ( one of them , Raethian Railway , better known as RatischeBahn ) , uses narrow gauge Stadler Allegra on the Tirano Lombardy - St. Moritz Switzerland line starting from an altitude of 300 meters above sea level and reaching a top altitude of more than 2.200 meters above sea level without using rack .

[@nigelchristensen7001]

My four-year-old is fast becoming a fan of your channel (we live in NZ maybe so there is a future "Geoff Marshall" being trained up for NZ rail)

[@arthurgordon6072]

The state of NZ Rail is embarrassing in comparison. 😕

[@allenwilliams1306]

I didn't know there were any trains n NZ - South Island, any way.

[@nigelchristensen7001]

@@allenwilliams1306 There are several lines in the Greater Wellington & Auckland areas, and as for the South Island, there are the Tranz Alpine & Coastal Pacific lines.

[@allenwilliams1306]

@@nigelchristensen7001 Then why does everyone fly?

[@bobsearle1893]

Thank you For the 745 video

[@jameschristmas3206]

745007 - From Norwich With Love

[@ukpete2006]

Another great video - thanks for that. Good to see the class 37's at the end which until recently worked some of the schedule to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft until the new trains arrived. They were old, noisy and dirty - which in my books makes them infinitely better than whatever new trains are running there now. There are still a couple of class 37's each day running from Cardiff Central to Rhymney so they're still (just about) in scheduled passenger service over 55 years after they were build!

[@gregkiteos1936]

Another good video. Thanks, Geoff. I’ll be sad when the old trains have gone from the GA network but I also can’t wait to try out the new trains.

[@MrGollum27]

I am totally looking forward to the accessability video!! go Geoff!

[@petermc7098]

Hello There, a great video that's well produced Geoff, they seem to have done well with the new interior and overall design of these news trains. Keep up the good work, I will miss seeing the Class 90 MK3 Sets in service. Cheers Peter :)

[@craigjgiles]

Really looking forward to a video or series on accessibility across different modes (DLR, tube, purple train etc), would also be great if Dominic could advise what able bodied people could do to help make accessibility better (what help, when and where or simple courtesy guidelines)

[@bob_._.]

Thanks for the bit about accessibility. Looking forward to the in-depth episode.

[@alexpresland3891]

Looking forward to learning about the challenges that Dominic faces using the railways.

[@lauraguttridge4853]

Thanks so much for this. Us drivers miss them too. ❤

[@MarkMaddyGriff]

Excellent video Geoff, looking forward to the accessibility video!

[@john_smith1471]

Good video, last week I noticed the Marks Tey - Sudbury line had the new 3 car bi-mode Stadler, quite an upgrade compared to what was before.

[@scottmacs]

It's great to see disability taken into account during the design of a train. Recently, Amtrak tried to enforce a policy that wheelchair users would have to pay for seats to be removed to accommodate them. Amtrak ended up only charging the regular fare but haven't stated what their new policy is.

[@strangekat2840]

Wow that's discrimination.

[@nickhiscock8948]

Thats the U.S. for you

[@omrail]

I hope you definitely do a video on the accessibility of the trains. It would be very interesting for sure it may also help the accessible community find out something they did not know.

[@colin.d]

An inter-city train with loads of space and spare seats - brilliant!

[@thesewalkamongstus8367]

As someone who has become disabled later on in life, the challenges are massive in all walks of life ( pun intended) and it is refreshing to see this approach being taken of getting a wheelchair user in at the beginning. Look forward to more on the subject. (incidentally, I was on a maiden voyage of a 125 from Waverly Edinburgh to Kings X back in the seventies.)

[@waverleyrocker]

Twenty twenty! Hurrah! You're the best Geoff.

[@Peasmouldia]

Best bit was the Growler. Thanks Geoff.

[@trimley]

Geoff - I like the presentation of your videos 👍

[@dylancarter1831]

Wow, good old Norwich, nice to see the station again as it was years since I was last their :)

[@gre2g]

enjoyed your special trick to enter double seat ! and like the way you address the concerns of someone with special needs .Well done !

[@peterryan8472]

Was on the Stansted Express the other day… fantastic train.

[@elizabethp1289]

Brilliant video report, thanks very much Geoff; interesting to have input from Dominic Lund-Conlon included. On the accessibility front, anything that can make it safer trying to overcome the dreaded "gap between the platform and the train" (with suitcases/pushchairs/toddlers/older friends who walk with a stick) is greatly appreciated. On some mainline train timetables, there can be literally only 1 minute for passengers with accessibility issues to board the train, I find it stressful to say the least.

[@nickhiscock8948]

Queensland Rail has portable ramps on the platforms that can be used to remove the gap as they also suffer from a huge height different at some stations. It can be up to 30 cm difference!

[@elizabethp1289]

@@nickhiscock8948 Good to know that there are innovative solutions available.

[@austsb]

I'm guessing that the compartment doors are positioned in that way in response to the removal of passenger door closing. In this arrangement the compartment doors can reduce heat lost when sitting at a station on in the cold.

[@TherconJair]

The doors actually close pretty quickly automatically when they are unobstructed, no door close button needed.

[@Oodelally]

I just went on the old trains recently to go to London from Suffolk, they looked pretty modern I didn’t think they were old.

[@aviator3926]

Geoff, please remember EMR...

[@yellowjulia]

Geoff I love you more and more every time I watch a video fo yours!

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Very big thumbs up for this one. Especially for that accessibility bit/part. And a big thumps up for making a special railway accessibility video some time in the future.

[@mohammedmazin4675]

Really like this 007.

[@djibreel1]

Great content. Keep it coming

[@gerrywatson261]

My! How B.R. Eastern region trains have changed since I used to commute to Liverpool St in the late 70's to mid 80's! Have to say Liverpool St used to be a more interesting place with 31, 37 and 47 being the main mode of locomotive power on the express runs. Enjoyed the video - keep up the good work Geoff!

[@lemongrapesfilms]

sad to see the old ones go, they were obviously well past it but i love the slam doors and abililty to feel some breeze out of the window, but many fond memories of travelling to/from university, the older grottier trains indicating I was almost home

[@57bananaman]

I saw one of these new trains trundling through Ilford Station yesterday evening. Looked very swish!! Incidentally, the main entrance/ticket hall at Ilford Station is now being rebuilt, so access to the station is via a new side entrance on Platform 1 or the previously existing side exit onto York Road at the north-western end of the station. Looks like it's a nightmare for those in wheelchairs or with childrens' buggies until the work is completed.

[@ajkradio8398]

Love these as I use on regular trips to Ipswich, do miss the slam doors though

[@bowlerstuff9589]

Ive been on 745 010,I love it,the toilet lock open and close buttons are right next to the door in disabled

[@paulhowell5011]

Got on one just before Christmas that was going from Liverpool Street to Norwich via Cambridge and I was quite impressed

[@paulhowell5011]

EssexLad 8919 Pretty sure it was a 745 because I was surprised to see it. Might have been on a sort of test as it was only stopping at a few larger stations

[@norbitonflyer5625]

@@paulhowell5011 Couldn't have been a 745 unless they have electrified Norwich to Ely on the quiet. 755s look similar but are shorter (3 or 4 cars) and have a growly bit in the middle

[@paulhowell5011]

Norbiton Flyer I must have been totally mistaken then. Thanks for the correction

[@robertmcphee4736]

Travelled on the 755s today and noticed how much longer you wait for doors to open - the step has to move out and adjust itself first!

[@thomasrichardson4480]

I’ll miss the 90s... but NOT THE STUPID VESTIBULE DOORS THAT NEVER OPEN WHEN YOU STAND NEAR THEM BUT DO RANDOMLY WHEN YOU DONT WANT THEM TOO! I love a 90...

[@RamonInNZ]

oooh nice, we have got new Electric commuters in Auckland NZ, and I went to Brisbane and rode on their new ones a couple of years ago.

[@carlkeehn2451]

Geoff, please do the video with Dominic Lund-Conlon as quickly as possible. As I work with visually impaired patrons, I would be quite interested in seeing how rail services in Britain are coping with disabilities.

[@robertmcphee4736]

The yellow band above the windows help identify where first class is!

[@cactustown5237]

Geoff, that train at 12:25 was 37401 Mary Queen of Scots, which was the same one that you saw in your Lancaster to Newcastle All the Stations video 2 1/2 years earlier!

[@philipwhiuk]

Nice one Geoff :)

[@john_smith1471]

I agree, the seats are on these are nice, they sit higher too, so your knees don't bend, I travelled on my first Stadler 745 yesterday and had a look at the emergency window opening procedure, they need a key which is in a box, Geoff had a key box behind him in the First class clip. A close the door inside button is more crucial on the class 312 & 360 as they open straight into the carriage and any warmth escapes, I often get up and close the doors if it's a freezing day.

[@SamRoebuckisTheBest]

Love those trains, especially the gubbins bit

[@asdme3950]

I really like the sound of the toilet door buttons lol

[@andy81e12]

Reason they are comfortable trains is because they are Swiss built ! Swiss rail comfort and stock must be one of the best in the world !! Well done Greater Anglia for keeping the buffet / Bistro ! Nice vid

[@vincitveritas3872]

I'll miss 90s and mk 3s

[@lukasturuta8135]

Love that new train

[@allybaker712]

Finally got on one today. Walked through the gubbins.

[@Soyosan22]

Very nice trains.

[@pwalker8814]

I see engineers from Stadler are in the UK today to look at the one that was stuck outside London for 3 hours yesterday

[@breeze1472]

very nice

[@GD28-03]

Nice video

[@lewis72]

12:27 The Class 37s are there to rescue the countless times that these new trains have packed up in the last few months.

[@LeoStarrenburg]

Ever wondered why you don't see phased-out Pacers arriving at breakers yards ? They're quietly kept in storage just in case operators run out of class 37's ...

[@lewis72]

@@LeoStarrenburg I haven't ever wondered that as I don't frequent breakers yards !

[@ItzChaza]

those 37's (DRS) have nothing to do with greater anglia there just there for storage and occasional use like the recent snow plough testing... only 37 611 and 37 800 (Rail Operations Group) are responsible for dealing with failed flirts with one based at norwich (37 800) and another at ipswich (37 611)

[@amyclarke6176]

aww good ol chelmsford station. one of the busiest 2 platform stations in the country. (wont be when Beaulieu station is built [insert time in the future that will never arrive]) chelmsford station 1/2 of my daily commute - can't say i wont miss you

[@alexalvarez4529]

I got on that very same Class 745 only yesterday.. I thought the same when I saw the number too 😂

[@tomgardiner4065]

You're in my neck of the woods right here. Would have loved to have bumped into you that day and spoken to you about how I've stood by a Class 90 just to repeatedly shut the slam doors. And none of the staff at Greater Anglia even questioned me. Gonna be a sad goodbye!

[@lewis72]

5:00 Person looks round to see who's talking to themself.

[@noahr2854]

Literally right as he was talking about how no one would notice him there

[@lewis72]

@@noahr2854 Exactly !

[@annadess]

Man I wish our intercity trains were at least half as good looking as your old ones.

[@dylanbarber6899]

Norwich is one of my local stations. Lots of the new trains around there.

[@splat68]

Fascinating look at the new trains that run on the line that serves where I live (Ipswich). You mentioned space for bicycles but not how much space there was. It would be interesting to see you use the same route with a bike. I have heard it is not the best, but this may be incorrect. Thanks.

[@b17marko]

What a day to release this video!!!

[@clemboscards3949]

One broke down today 😂😂 5 hours delays 😂😂😂

[@Haybalemelonhead]

Typical greater anglia

[@clemboscards3949]

@@HaybalemelonheadI travel from Stowmarket - Bury every day and there always late or cancelled 🤣😬

[@vanillasplash6198]

I mean, it's a new train so its not going to be perfect from the get go

[@Panda3style]

Yeah it's been bad lately

[@Izzyyy223]

vanillasplash greater Anglias always been like that

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

The name’s 745. Class 745

[@WaschiXtreme]

That was the very train I saw at Stratford a few days ago!

[@jasonhooperkontaktkombatkr2720]

Nice trains

[@sadiqmohamed681]

Looks like a nice train. I will look forward to your episode with the disability guy. Having become a person with "hidden" disabilities, namely impacted disks and arthritis, it is a subject which is of some interest. Not being able to bend easily or grip onto things can make getting in and out seats difficult. And negotiating stations can be a real adventure!

[@chrishewitt4220]

Humming the Bond theme and then you point to the sign for the quiet carriage and it looks just like Bond blowing the smoke from his pistol!

[@markfinney4157]

Great Geoff as always. Can you at some stage show us the cab layout on these new Stadlers?

[@Hammondfreak]

Not many people get emotional/excited/nostalgic (choose a word or insert your own) using a train slam-door but I sort of understand. Good video and nice train.

[@felenov]

I miss the old trains. I always used to stand at the door with the window slightly open.

[@llux]

good riddence! so happy to ride the new train today! those old trains are NOT fun with lots of luggage

[@randomtrainvideos]

saw this exact train today😍

[@annoyedlemon]

i would love to see Dominic and you do a video as a wheelchair user its a very different aspect

[@big23man]

I travelled on both the old and the new (also happened to be 007) between Diss and Norwich and back again a few days later. Those in-carriage sliding doors were very squeaky in the new trains but otherwise I found the carriages very comfortable. The locals told me they can’t use these new trains on a section of line out of Ipswich as the crossing signal from the train to the crossings doesn’t work until the last second.

[@norbitonflyer5625]

That was the class 755s on some of the branch lines. There seems to be a problem with the signalling (and crossing control systems) detecting them. In one recent case on the Cromer branch the barriers lifted just as a train approached at the crossing

[@afcgeo882]

Very nice cars, but the satisfaction of that “thump” the door makes when you close it; that cannot be replaced, can it?

[@gpan62]

There certainly was some train car door slamming on the streets of Anglia that night! 🤣

[@marysweet8858]

Really enjoyed this one as usual. Any plans to come up north and give us your verdict on the new TPE Nova trains? Maybe with a visit to Warrington West?

[@Hello-yp3bj]

I havent watched Geoff in so long I forget how much fun it was watching.

[@michaelscott7166]

Rode one last week. Not keen on the plug between the seats also the heating vents down low in the corners encroach on where I want to put my legs. Nice trains though and I got given a free multi port retractable USB cable as a freebie.

[@LostintheMagic]

Normally I'm a big fan of new stock but have to say I'm gonna miss the old trains - lots of memories of traveling up to Norwich on them to visit the grandparents.