UK: The first of 10 Stadler Flirt electric multiple-units which Greater Anglia has ordered for use on Stansted Express branded services between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport was delivered to the operator’s Norwich depot on February 28.

It will now undergo safety and performance testing before it is approved for passenger service.

The 25 kV 50 Hz Class  745/1 EMUs for the Stansted Express service are technically similar to the 10 Class 745/0 units which Greater Anglia has ordered for London – Norwich inter-city services. The air-conditioned interiors of the 12-car sets feature at-seat plug and USB sockets, free wi-fi and passenger information screens. Unlike the inter-city trains the airport trains do not have a buffet or first class seating, but will have additional luggage racks.

Franchisee Abellio is in the process of replacing the entire Greater Anglia fleet. Stadler is supplying a total of 58 electric and electro-diesel Flirt UK units of classes 745 and 755, financed by the Rock Rail East Anglia joint venture of Rock Rail, Aberdeen Standard Investments and GLIL Infrastructure. Bombardier Transportation’s Derby factory is producing 111 Class 720 Aventra EMUs, financed by Angel Trains.

The new trainsets are expected to begin entering service from the middle of this year, with the inter-city trains taking over London – Norwich services by end of 2019. The full roll-out is scheduled to take two years.