Great Eastern Main Line, 30 Years of Electric Intercity Services with Class 86, 90 and now the 745s

Great Eastern Main Line. 30 Years of Electric Intercity Services with have been operated with Class 86s, Class 90s and now the Class 745s EMUs.

Using both still images and video clips I take a look back at over 30 years of electric intercity services between London and Norwich.

In May 1987 the project to electrify the entire length of Great Eastern Main Line was finally completed and electric services could now operate between London and Norwich. During the British Rail era London Liverpool Street to Norwich services were operated by Class 86 locomotives and Mark 2 coaches and used the InterCity branding.

In the early 1990s push-pull operation was introduced using driving brake stand open DBSO coaches displaced from from the ScotRail Glasgow to Edinburgh services after the introduction of the Class 158 DMUs.

As part of the privatisation of BR in 1997 the London–Norwich route became part of the Anglia Railways franchise. The franchise was awarded to GB Railways who introduced a new turquoise and white livery to the rolling stock.

In 2004 the franchise was awarded to National Express East Anglia who initially renamed the franchise as ONE and rebranded the stock with a new livery.

The new franchise owners also began to introduce Class 90 to the route replacing the ageing Class 86s as well as refurbished Mark 3 coaches and DVT displaced from the WCML after the introduction of the Pendolinos.

In 2004 Stoke tunnel just to the south of Ipswich station was closed to enable track bed to be lowered to accommodate the taller Hi-Cube 2.9m high containers carried on intermodal trains from Felixstowe docks.

During the closure a small number of Norwich to London services were diverted via Ely and Cambridge with the electric loco and stock being dragged by a Class 47 locomotive.

A few Class 86s were temporarily retained on the route with the final Class 86 Anglia passenger working between Norwich and London occurring on the 17th September 2005.

In February 2008 the ONE branding was dropped and franchised became National Express East Anglia with yet more liveries applied to the rolling stock.

In August 2016, it was announced that Abellio had been awarded the Greater Anglia franchise. As part of its bit Abellio had agreed to replace the entire fleet with over 1000 new carriages. This included 20 Class 745 electric multiple units which would replace the Class 90s on the Norwich to Liverpool Street services.