NEW state-of-the-art trains for the London to Southend route are set to roll out later this year – and training is already under way for staff.

The first of Greater Anglia’s new Bombardier trains on routes via Shenfield will take place later this year, with the roll-out expected to reach the West Anglia line in the second half of 2021.

The train operator will run the new trains from Liverpool Street to Essex, Ipswich, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, and is training hundreds of staff to get ready for the new trains, which can hold up to 1,000 passengers.

The trains all have air conditioning, USB points, plug sockets and free wifi, a wheelchair user area which includes seating for friends and family, and a dedicated area for full-size bicycles.

Echo:

They have underfloor heating – a first for UK trains – which will work with an overhead heating and ventilation system to improve passenger comfort and increase foot room for passengers sitting in window seats.

Customer service staff at stations are being trained in a wide variety of areas including how to use new wheelchair ramps and where the new accessible area is in the train, which comes complete with plug and USB sockets and a universal access toilet nearby.

The trains are significantly lighter than previous trains and have regenerative braking which delivers energy back into the electrical supply network, rather than wasting the energy, through heat, as is the case with conventional systems.

Greater Anglia’s business readiness director, Andrew Goodrum, said: “Training is going at full speed throughout the business as we look to introduce the first of our new commuter trains to our network on the London to Southend route.

Echo:

“We’ve trained hundreds of our colleagues so far so they’re all aware of what they need to do with our new trains, which have new systems and a different equipment layout to get to grips with.

“We have, of course, taken steps to make sure our staff are protected from Covid-19 throughout all of the training.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming passengers on our new Bombardier commuter trains in the coming months.”