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January

CLASS 379 UNITS MAKE THEIR DEBUT

Although not due to enter public service for a few months yet, the first of the new Class 379 Electrostar emus commenced clearance and other trials from early January. These included runs that took 379001 to Norwich twice on Saturday 8th. While the thirty-strong fleet of Bombardier, Derby built four-car units is for use on Stansted Airport and Cambridge services, it seems that Network Rail (NR) and National Express East Anglia (NXEA) are ominously keen on checking the units’ suitability for traversing all electrified main lines and branches in the Greater Anglia franchise area, including through to Kings Lynn. Somewhat strangely, NR’s pre-planned paths included Haughley Jct to Coldhams Lane Jct, Cambridge, which is around 40 miles of unwired track! Similarly, the non-electrified platform 6 at Norwich was also earmarked for a visit by an emu.

IPSWICH STATION FOOTBRIDGE

Brickwork around the lift-shaft on platform 2 had reached footbridge floor level by mid-January but progress does seem to be slow as by this time no similar work had begun on the island platform side. Opening in April is now envisaged, a month later than previously announced. It is reported that there will be no glazing in the top panels of the bridge so leaving it partly open to the elements. The original plans showed there was to have been a mesh screen here but this was later changed to glazing to match the existing footbridge. However, the outcome of a Risk Assessment study was that there is a very low priority vandalism risk which seems a little odd given that 25Kv cables run underneath the bridge but at least photographers will be appeased.