Priti Patel MP with Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s Engineering Director (left) and Jonathan Denby Head of Corporate Affairs, alongside one of the company’s new trains.
Priti Patel MP reviews Greater Anglia’s New Train Fleet at London’s Liverpool Street Station
Witham MP Priti Patel visited London Liverpool Street Station today (30th January 2023) and met with Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs and Martin Beable, Engineering Director at Greater Anglia to review their new and expanding fleet of trains. Since being elected in 2010, Priti has been at the forefront in pressing for new and long-term investment in rail services and infrastructure on the Greater Eastern Main Line (GEML). This includes the leading role she played in establishing the GEML Taskforce in 2013 with other MPs in the region, which has pressed for a strategic approach to deliver improvements to rail services and developed business cases demonstrating the economic benefits of new investment coming to the GEML.
By liaising with rail user groups, local businesses and her Parliamentary colleagues, Priti was successful in securing £1.5 billion of investment for the current Greater Anglia franchise and £1 billion has been spent on rolling out new trains across the network. As a result, over 80% of Greater Anglia’s train fleet is new, which means there are 138 trains in service overall, including the rolling stock Priti viewed at Liverpool Street.
Greater Anglia expects all their services to have switched over to new train operations by June this year and the full fleet to have been delivered by September, which will complete the transformation of train services across their network.
Priti, who has also previously served as the Chair of the GEML Taskforce, said “Since my election as the Member of Parliament for Witham in 2010, I was determined to deliver a high performing, high quality and world class rail service for my constituents and I am pleased to see Greater Anglia’s new train fleet close to being fully upgraded.
“Commuters have been dealing with poor train services for far too long, which is why establishing the GEML taskforce was such an important step in bringing together stakeholders, partners, and groups to set out a plan and secure investment from the Government.
“We have been successful in securing £1 billion to roll out new trains across the network, which is transforming travel for passengers who are now able to rely on modern trains with excellent facilities including charging points and WIFI connectivity. As well as benefiting from these new trains, reliability will be improved with £2.2 billion of investment secured to support rail infrastructure to operate, maintain and renew the railways in the Anglia region. This investment is improving travel for commuters and giving our economy a boost. Further improvements are planned, including the redevelopment of Witham railway station and the new station at Beaulieu Park and I am continuing to campaign for investment and to champion the needs of our commuters.
“This progress has been in the making for over 10 years, and it has made a huge difference not only to passengers, local business, and the Witham residents, but also the East Anglia region.”
Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia said: “We were pleased to host Priti Patel MP for a visit to London Liverpool Street to see and hear about our new trains. We were able to show her the benefits that the new trains offer, in terms of both extra seating capacity and greater passenger comfort, as well as outline the improved punctuality and reliability they are also already providing. This summer we are due to reach the point where all Greater Anglia services, including all those used by Priti’s constituents, will be operated by new trains, completing the transition we promised, with the £1.4 billion investment in an entire fleet of new trains across the Greater Anglia network.
“We look forward to maximising the benefits of the new trains for customers and local communities in the years ahead and to working with Priti to try and secure the investment needed to upgrade the rail infrastructure in the region.”