Silver service for Stansted Express and West Anglia passengers as trains win reliability award

Trains used by Stansted Express passengers and travellers on the West Anglia line have won Silver Spanner awards for reliability.

Greater Anglia (GA) operates Class 745/1 trains on the service between Liverpool Street and the airport and Class 720 trains between the London terminus and Cambridge.

They were recognised in the industry awards for being the most improved train of their type, with 97.4% and 98.4% year-on-year enhancements respectively.

GA’s 755 four-carriage bi-mode trains, which operate on rural lines, went one better. They were named the most reliable “second generation new diesel” train at the Modern Railways Fourth Friday Club Golden Spanners Awards.

The victory completed a hat trick of wins after GA’s Class 755 three-carriage bi-mode trains received the award in 2021.

The Golden Spanners Awards are made purely on the statistical reliability of every single type of train over the 12 months up to September 15.

GA managing director Martin Beable said: “Our new trains have transformed rail travel in the region and we’re thrilled they’ve been recognised again with these awards.

“This excellent result is a tribute to the work both of our teams and the teams at [rolling stock suppliers] Alstom and Stadler, who work round the clock keeping our trains running and further improving their performance.

“We are committed to maintaining these excellent performance standards, to complement the transformation in the journey experience brought by our new trains with their greater comfort, better facilities (including plug/USB points and Wi-Fi), increased seating capacity and better accessibility.”