Angel Trains is delighted to announce that our Re-tractioned and refreshed Class 317 unit has entered passenger service with Abellio Greater Anglia. The unit will operate in passenger service for the next 6 months to gauge passenger feedback on the new look train and to complete the final requirements of the contract (traction and unit fault free running etc).
The pre-series vehicle has been the subject of a £7million overhaul as part of a joint project between Angel Trains, Bombardier Transportation and Abellio Greater Anglia and provides the train operator with new train look, feel and performance at a fraction of the cost of building a unit from scratch.
The project included a complete interior redesign to increase capacity and ensure PRM (Persons of Reduced Mobility) compliance, and significant engineering work on the doors to increase the ease of maintenance. A major re-tractioning project was also undertaken to move the train from a DC to an AC power unit which enables the train to make use of regenerative braking and benefit from faster acceleration, both of which will significantly reduce power consumption and operational costs.
Passengers travelling on the Re-engineered Class 317 will have the opportunity to benefit from a number of new features, including:
· Refurbished interior, new seating and additional grab poles
· Increased capacity, including larger vestibule areas
· CCTV cameras throughout the train to improve safety
· Climate controlled environment
· Plug sockets and Wi-Fi throughout the vehicle
· Passenger information systems to provide journey details
