HomePeopleGreater Anglia engineers begin 'intense' maintenance training for new trains

Greater Anglia engineers begin ‘intense’ maintenance training for new trains

Listen to this article

Groups of Greater Anglia systems technicians are being flown to Switzerland for an intense programme of maintenance training.

The engineers will look after the operator’s new Stadler trains and will spend six months travelling to the manufacturer’s bases and its suppliers in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Romania, to learn different aspects of train engineering.

During their training, they will learn all about the different maintenance requirements, new systems, on-board electronics and software, electrical and mechanical assembly and how to carry out tests, identify faults and carry out repairs.


Like this story? Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with rail industry news


Later they will be involved in testing the FLIRT trains throughout Europe – for different conditions, such as night-time, daytime, and wet and hot weather and for specific technical attributes, such as testing brakes, safety systems and noise levels – before they arrive for further testing and commissioning in the UK later this year.

This is the first time that Stadler has organised this type of training for a UK client.

Hein van der Schoot, managing director for Stadler Rail Service UK & Netherlands, said: “It’s relatively long and pretty intense, but having locally trained people who are already experts on servicing and maintaining the new fleet, as soon as it comes in, benefits everybody in the long run.”

Stadler is providing a total of 58 trains for Greater Anglia, including 38 bi-mode trains that will run on rural routes in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.


Read more: Network Rail re-signs Armed Forces Covenant


 

Recommended