I MANAGED to have a sneak peak at c2c’s new Aventra 720 trains and they were speedy, spacious and truly spectacular.
On Friday, c2c invited the Echo to take a ride from Fenchurch Street to Southend Central and back on one of the 12 new £100 million trains set to be rolled out to passengers later this year.
These trains were purchased in 2017 as part of a £100 million deal, and c2c has now received its delivery of the first two new trains.
READ MORE >> Wickford teen jailed for life over 'gory' terror plot to attack soldiers and police
From the moment I saw the new Aventra 720 on the platform next to the current c2c trains, I was already amazed.
The bright white colour, the pink doors, and the clean, shiny finish - in comparison to the current trains they were incomparable.
And as the doors opened, the differences continued to stand out. Firstly, the Aventra is an “open gangway”-style, so passengers can walk between the carriages with so much ease as there are no doors.
It was also far more spacious both in the aisles, and with foot room between the seats.
The train itself felt very open, I could almost see through each carriage from the front of the train to the back.
It really made a difference with the temperature too as I could feel the air conditioning flowing through the whole train, making it a much cooler, and nicer journey than the usual hot and humid train rides.
The new features didn’t stop there as every seat had power and USB port, something that will be music to the ears of many commuters.
The Aventra 720 also boasted dedicated cycle stores, as well as improved Wi-Fi, which was faster and actually worked through the journey - unlike the current Wi-Fi set-up on existing trains.
One thing that really stood out though were the information screens. They were bigger, clearer, and far easier to read. They were also spaced more frequent throughout the carriages too.
And to all those commuters who need a mirror to get ready while on the train after an early start… there was a full-length mirror in the toilets just for that.
Overall, I thought these trains were just spectacular, especially in comparison with the current fleet. I think commuters will fall in love with them, and even though they have been a long time in the pipeline, they will certainly be worth the wait.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel