ALSTOM CLASS 720/6 electric multiple units will enter traffic with c2c from September, the operator has confirmed.
Twelve five-car sets, each with capacity for 695 passengers, have been ordered by c2c and are set to become the fourth fleet from the Aventra platform to enter traffic.
A preview run for stakeholders operated on June 2 using 720605/607, with the EMUs taking passengers on a journey from London Fenchurch Street to Southend Central and back. On board, c2c managing director Rob Mullen told Railways Illustrated that the trains would be used throughout the day rather than only at peak periods, as per the fleet of six Class 387/3s c2c had been using.
Technical issues were the reason why the trains are a year late entering service, he said, and that driver training was now underway.
The c2c fleet features 3+2 seating as per Greater Anglia’s much larger fleet of 133 Class 720s, but there are fewer seats and no airline-style 3+2 seating. Mr Mullen denied that c2c had changed the interior following the criticism received by GA of its fleet.
Each Class 720/6 features 443 Standard Class seats, two wheelchair spaces, 14 tip-up seats, and four bicycle spaces. There is also space for 236 standing passengers
