British Rail Class 720
| Company type | Electric multiple unit passenger train |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Predecessor | Bombardier Electrostar EMUs |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Bombardier Transportation and Alstom |
| Headquarters | Derby , United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom (Greater Anglia, c2c) |
Key people | Ian McConnell (Greater Anglia franchise director) |
| Products | Class 720 Aventra EMU trains |
| Owner | Angel Trains (financier for Greater Anglia fleet), Porterbrook (financier for c2c fleet) |
| Parent | Bombardier Transportation, Alstom |
The British Rail Class 720 Aventra is an electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train developed and manufactured by Bombardier Transportation and its successor Alstom. Both Greater Anglia and c2c operate the Class 720 fleet.
A total of 145 five-car Class 720 sets were commissioned to serve suburban routes operated by Greater Anglia and c2c, including lines from (Greater Anglia and c2c) and (c2c). Although initially planned for deployment in 2019, minor delays in development postponed the introduction until 26 November 2020, when Greater Anglia launched the Class 720 service on the London Liverpool Street to Southend Line. It was anticipated that all Greater Anglia units would be fully operational by summer 2020. c2c began running its Class 720 trains on 27 September 2023.
Description
The Class 720 belongs to Bombardier Transportation's Aventra series, an evolution of the well-established Electrostar EMUs. Compared with Electrostar models, the Class 720 offers lighter weight and longer carriages: a ten-car Class 720 matches the length of a twelve-car Class 360 but weighs only 386 tonnes compared to 516 tonnes, while providing increased seating capacity.
Each carriage measures 24 metres and features an aluminium bodyshell constructed through welding and bolting techniques. The train achieves a maximum speed of 100 mph and delivers a starting tractive effort of 21.6 kN per motor, with a total traction power of 2300 kW per unit, allowing acceleration rates up to 0.8 m/s². The driver's cab is centrally positioned with additional space allocated for an observer or instructor.
As of October 2022, all delivered Class 720 units consist of five-car sets measuring 122 metres in length, accommodating up to 540 passengers in standard class; no first-class seating configurations have been selected by operators. The interior layout employs a 3+2 cantilevered seating arrangement designed to maximize luggage space beneath seats and simplify cleaning processes. Passenger amenities include air conditioning, real-time information displays with load indicators, seat-back tables, power outlets at every seat, onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, and accessible restroom facilities.
The trains feature interconnecting gangways to promote even passenger distribution and fully comply with accessibility regulations by offering wheelchair spaces and bicycle storage areas. Each five-car set includes one toilet specifically designed for enhanced accessibility.
In September 2017, Greater Anglia showcased an interior mockup during public consultations that led to refinements such as replacing initially planned Fainsa seats with softer Kiel models and adding seat-back tables. Additionally, the units incorporate underfloor heating—believed to be a first for British trains—eliminating the need for bodyside heaters and thereby increasing usable floor space.
Greater Anglia
In August 2016, Greater Anglia secured the East Anglia franchise along with a commitment to renew its entire fleet. This commitment involved placing an order with Bombardier Transportation for 111 electric multiple units from the new Aventra range. These trains were originally specified as 89 five-carriage Class 720/5 units and 22 ten-carriage Class 720/1 units. In October 2020, Greater Anglia modified this order by converting the twenty-two ten-car sets into forty-four five-car sets, enhancing operational flexibility within the overall total of 665 vehicles ordered.
The introduction of Class 720s replaces a varied assortment of older trains including Class 317, Class 321, Class 360, and Class 379 units that had been serving outer-suburban routes on the West Anglia Main Line and Great Eastern Main Line. Manufactured at Bombardier’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works, the fleet is financed through rolling stock company Angel Trains. Supporting infrastructure investments amounting to approximately £300 million have been made across depots, sidings, and stations to facilitate integration of the new trains.
c2c
In December 2017, c2c placed an order with rolling stock financiers Porterbrook and manufacturer Bombardier for 60 vehicles from the Aventra series, initially arranged as six trains of ten cars each, with an anticipated introduction in 2021. This order was subsequently modified to twelve trains consisting of five cars each, classified as subclass 720/6, replacing the earlier plan for Class 711 units.
Greater Anglia
The first Greater Anglia unit's construction commenced in February 2018 and was finalized by September of the same year. Although service was originally planned for 2019, it was postponed to 2020 due to complications related to the Train Control Management System (TCMS) software. Testing operations began on 17 March 2020 along the London Liverpool Street to Southend route.
Both manufacturing and testing phases faced delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On 8 June 2020, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) granted approval for the Class 720 to enter operational service. Passenger operations started on 26 November 2020 between London Liverpool Street and Southend, with services extending by December to include the Braintree branch and Southminster routes.
Driver training for deployment on the Cambridge line started in February 2021. Ian McConnell, franchise director at Greater Anglia, noted that while the Class 720 performed well overall, onboard software remained the primary challenge during rollout. The plan was to expand fleet usage across Great Eastern routes covering Essex and Ipswich by mid-2021, followed by introduction on the West Anglia route connecting Liverpool Street and Cambridge later that year.
On 23 March 2021, Class 720 units began operating on services from Liverpool Street to Clacton, Colchester Town, and Ipswich. By August, these trains were running on the West Anglia mainline and Hertford East branch. Service coverage further extended in September to Harwich Town and Walton-on-the-Naze.
c2c
In December 2017, c2c commissioned six ten-car Class 720/6 Aventra electric multiple units from Porterbrook, with deliveries expected between mid and late 2021—advancing the timeline by three years compared to initial projections. The first unit arrived on 19 April 2022, with fleet introduction anticipated within that year. Subsequently, the order was adjusted to twelve five-car units intended to replace six four-car units previously leased on a short-term basis.
On 6 October 2022, a c2c representative confirmed that comprehensive testing of the Class 720 trains was ongoing, with no finalized dates announced for passenger service commencement. In March 2023, c2c's managing director stated that entry into service for the Class 720s was planned for later in the year. By 2 June 2023, forecasts indicated a September launch, and the initial Class 720 units began operating on 27 September 2023.
Fleet details
These units share similarities with the and models constructed for Crossrail and London Overground, yet the Class 720s offer a higher maximum speed of and provide considerably more seating per carriage to meet their operational demands.
| Subclass | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 720/1 | Greater Anglia | 44 | 2018–2024 | 5 | 720101–720144 |
| 720/5 | 89 | 720501–720589 | |||
| 720/6 | c2c | 12 | 2022 | 720601–720612 |
Named units
Certain train units feature distinctive liveries or are designated with names that emphasize Greater Anglia’s branding and its engagement with community projects.
| Unit number | Name | Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unique liveries | ||||||
| 720110 | Honouring Black History | |||||
| 720506 | Pride-themed Livery | |||||
| Unit number | Name | Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named trains | ||||||
| 720601 | Julian Drury c2c Managing Director 2008-2020 | |||||