Class 745 (Stadler)

Class 745 (Stadler)
Name	Class 745 (Stadler)
Manufacturer	Stadler Rail
Family	FLIRT
Yearconstruction	2019–2021
Numberbuilt	58
Formation	7 cars
Operator	Greater Anglia
Depots	Crown Point Depot
Carbody	Aluminium
Maxspeed	100 mph (160 km/h)
Gauge	1,435 mm (standard gauge)
Traction	AC asynchronous motors
Poweroutput	2,000 kW

Class 745 (Stadler) is a fleet of electric multiple units built by Stadler Rail for operation in the United Kingdom by Greater Anglia. Introduced into passenger service in the early 2020s, the units form part of a broader UK modernisation programme that involved rolling stock procurement, depot development, and timetable revision. The trains are derived from the FLIRT family and were intended to replace older Class 321 (British Rail) and Class 90 (British Rail) hauled sets on intercity and regional services serving East Anglia, London Liverpool Street, and coastal routes.

Overview

The Class 745 fleet was ordered as part of a contract announced by Abellio's Greater Anglia franchise consolidation and later operated by Transport for the East of England stakeholders in conjunction with Department for Transport (United Kingdom). The procurement involved Stadler Rail Valencia design input and delivery schedules coordinated with upgrades at Ipswich railway station, Norwich railway station, and Liverpool Street station. The FLIRT-derived units emphasise energy efficiency, passenger comfort, and compliance with Interoperability of the trans-European rail system technical standards applicable to UK electrified mainlines.

Design and Construction

Stadler's design for the Class 745 adapted the FLIRT platform used by operators such as SBB and ÖBB to UK loading gauge constraints negotiated with Network Rail. Construction took place at Stadler Valencia with final assembly and testing aligned to requirements set by Rail Safety and Standards Board guidance. Aluminium carbody construction and modular interiors were specified to meet accessibility requirements of Equality Act 2010 and the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations. Bogie design, traction inverters, and onboard diagnostics employ components from suppliers including ABB, Siemens, and Knorr-Bremse under supply agreements managed by Stadler and overseen by Greater Anglia procurement teams.

Operations and Deployment

The Class 745 entered passenger service after commissioning trials coordinated with Office of Rail and Road acceptance procedures and driver training delivered at East Anglia Training Centre. Deployment replaced older electric and diesel-hauled formations on routes from London Liverpool Street to Ipswich, Norwich, Southend Victoria, and branch services to coastal destinations such as Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. Timetabling changes were published by National Rail and integrated with rolling stock diagrams used by Rail Delivery Group. Maintenance cycles are primarily handled at Crown Point Depot with periodic overhauls scheduled in coordination with Stadler Rail's lifecycle support.

Technical Specifications

The units are configured in seven-car formations with a total seating capacity suitable for intercity commuter flows and long-distance passengers on East Anglian services. Traction is provided by three-phase AC asynchronous motors controlled by IGBT or silicon carbide inverters, supplying approximately 2,000 kW continuous power and permitting a maximum service speed of 100 mph. Onboard systems include Automatic Train Protection-compatible equipment, ETCS-ready provision for future fitment, passenger information systems integrated with National Rail Enquiries feeds, and CCTV supplied under contract with Bosch Security Systems. HVAC systems meet standards referenced by British Standards Institution specifications for public transport.

Safety and Performance

Safety compliance was validated through testing regimes aligned with Rail Accident Investigation Branch recommendations and Network Rail route compatibility assessments. Crashworthiness design incorporated energy absorption structures following European standards enforced by European Union Agency for Railways principles adapted post-Brexit in UK regulation. Performance benchmarking measured acceleration profiles, regenerative braking energy capture, and reliability metrics reported to the Department for Transport (United Kingdom) and franchise stakeholders. Initial service introduction produced mixed reliability results, prompting iterative software updates from Stadler and component recalibrations authorised by maintenance engineers.

Fleet and Livery

The fleet of 58 seven-car units was delivered in Greater Anglia corporate livery, reflecting branding decisions by the franchisee and owner entities such as Abellio at the time of order, later consistent with imagery used by Greater Anglia marketing. Each unit carries a unique fleet number sequence allocated under TOPS coding administered by Network Rail operations. Interior schemes include first-class and standard-class seating zones, accessible spaces conforming to Passenger Assist requirements, and luggage areas suitable for longer-distance coastal traffic promoted in regional tourism campaigns by Visit East of England partners.

Incidents and Modifications

During early operations, several units experienced software faults, door system irregularities, and minor component failures leading to temporary withdrawals for modification under engineering notices issued by Office of Rail and Road. Notable incidents prompted investigations referenced by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch where applicable and corrective action plans overseen by Stadler and Greater Anglia engineering directors. Subsequent modifications included upgraded door controllers, revised traction software, and enhancements to diagnostic telemetry for improved remote fault detection coordinated with suppliers like Siemens and ABB. Continuous feedback from unions such as ASLEF and RMT (trade union) contributed to operational risk assessments and schedule adjustments until mean distance between failures reached contractual targets.

Category:Multiple units of Great Britain