British Rail Class 720

British Rail Class 720
Aventra
GA Class 720 at Great Bentley in October 2021
Greater Anglia Class 720 at Great Bentley
The interior of a Greater Anglia Class 720 Aventra
In service26 November 2020–present
Manufacturer
Built atDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Family nameAventra
Replaced
[1]
Constructed2018–2024[2]
Number built145
Number in service107[3]
Formation
  • 5 cars per unit:
  • DMS-PMSL-MS2-MS3-DTSLW
Diagram
  • DMS vehs.: EL237
  • PMSL vehs.: ER221
  • MS2 vehs.: ER222
  • MS3 vehs.: ER223
  • DTSLW vehs.: EQ205[4]
Fleet numbers
  • 720101–720144[5]
  • 720501–720589
  • 720601–720612
Capacity490 seats (Greater Anglia sets)[6] plus 145 standees
443 seats (c2c sets)[7] plus 236 standees[8]
OwnersAngel Trains[9]
Operators
Depots
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Train length122 m (400 ft 3 in)
Car length24.2 m (79 ft 5 in)
Width2.77 m (9 ft 1 in)
DoorsDouble-leaf sliding plug
(2 per side per car)
Maximum speed100 mph (161 km/h)
Weight
  • 193.1 tonnes (190.1 long tons; 212.9 short tons)
Power output2,300 kW (3,100 hp)
Acceleration0.8 m/s2 (1.8 mph/s)
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collector(s)Pantograph
BogiesBombardier Flexx-Eco[11]
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemDellner
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from [12][13] unless otherwise noted.

The British Rail Class 720 Aventra is a class of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train designed and produced by the rolling stock manufacturer Bombardier Transportation and its acquirer Alstom. The Class 720 is operated by both Greater Anglia and c2c.

145 Class 720 units were ordered in the five car configuration only; these are to be operated across multiple suburban lines leading out of both London Liverpool Street (Greater Anglia and c2c) and London Fenchurch Street (c2c).[14] Originally intended to be introduced during 2019, delays were encountered during development that minorly impacted this timetable. On 26 November 2020, Greater Anglia commenced the Class 720's introduction. Its initial operations were centred on the London Liverpool Street to Southend Line.[14] All Greater Anglia units were intended to be in service by the summer of 2020.[13] c2c's fleet entered service on 27 September 2023.[15]

Cab interior of a Class 720
  1. ^ Dunn, Pip (24 January 2024). "Adventure on a GA Class 720 Aventra". Feature Train Test. Rail Magazine. No. 1001. pp. 48–53.
  2. ^ "Greater Anglia yet to finalise Class 720 fleet plan". Headline news. Rail Express. No. 336. May 2024. p. 9.
  3. ^ "The distorted rolling stock market". Modern Railways. No. 900. September 2023. p. 38.
  4. ^ Fletcher, Steve (8 June 2020). "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011, as amended – Authorisation of Class 720/5 – Unit numbers (inclusive) 720501 to 720589" (PDF). Letter to Paul Carter (Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd). London: Office of Rail and Road. UK/51/2020/0033. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Numbers for extra 5 car units confirmed". Today's Railways UK. No. 227. January 2021. p. 69.
  6. ^ "Seats to be removed from GA '720s'". Modern Railways. No. 894. Stamford: Key Publishing. 22 March 2023. p. 83.
  7. ^ "c2c '720s' sets for autumn debut". Modern Railways. No. 898. July 2023. p. 14.
  8. ^ "c2c 720/6 to enter traffic this autumn". Railways Illustrated. No. 246. August 2023. p. 11.
  9. ^ Sherratt, Philip, ed. (2023). "ROSCO Fleets". Modern Railways: Review 2023. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-1-80282-569-5.
  10. ^ "New c2c Class 720/6 EMU starts main line testing". Railways Illustrated. No. 233. July 2022. p. 8.
  11. ^ Bednall, Joe (June 2010). "A low impact commuter train". Rail Professional. No. 159. p. 27.
  12. ^ "Our Fleet - Class 720". Angel Trains. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  13. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference rail engineer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ a b "GA shows off Aventra mock-up". Modern Railways. Stamford: Key Publishing. 21 September 2017. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  15. ^ Banks, Ethan (27 September 2023). "c2c new trains enter passenger service this morning". Basildon Canvey Southend Echo. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.