'Flirts' start on Stansted Express
JULY 28 saw the first appearance of Class 745/1 'Flirt' units on Stansted Express services between Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, with two of the five diagrams on the route being covered by the new rolling stock.
The first set to be used was No. 745106, which formed the 1804/05.06 Liverpool Street-Stansted, and it was later joined by No. 745103. However, an issue with No. 745106 saw it replaced by No. 745108 after working the 1825/08.42 Stansted-Liverpool Street. No. 745106 then formed the 1P20/10.30 Liverpool Street-Norwich. Subsequently, No. 745108 also suffered a failure.
Greater Anglia says it plans to introduce the new fleet on the Stansted route over the next six to nine months, releasing the '379s' currently employed on these duties for other work on West Anglia lines. To date, eight of the 10 '745/1' sets have entered service, five doing so duringJu~(Nos.745101/103/104/108/109). Along with Nos. 745105-107, they have seen use on London to Norwich services, although their lack of first class and catering facilities means they are far from ideal on this route.
One of the two '745/ls' yet to be put into traffic, No. 745102, was collected from Harwich Parkeston Quay (where it had been stored since June 29) by No. 37608 on July 28, and returned to Norwich. The
