COMMUTERS can travel to London in style as one of Greater Anglia’s new intercity trains has been brought into service on the Colchester line.

The 12-carriage electric train, built by Swiss company Stadler, runs between Norwich and London Liverpool Street.

The service calls at Colchester, Manningtree, Ipswich, Diss and Norwich.

Ian McConnell, Greater Anglia franchise and programme director, said: “We’re pleased to have brought one of our new intercity trains into passenger service.

“Last month was difficult for our customers, as signalling issues on our rural branch lines caused a great deal of disruption and also set back our new trains’ roll-out.

“We are making every effort to improve our service and the first longer intercity train in service with all the facilities customers expected will start to make a difference to our intercity customers.”

The new intercity trains have 757 seats and will all be in passenger service by Easter.

They have plug and USB sockets, free fast Wifi, air conditioning and improved passenger information screens.

The new intercity trains have gold standard accessibility features, including a lower floor and a retractable step at every door to bridge the gap between the train and platform.

Martino Celeghini, technical project manager at Stadler, said: “The roll-out of the intercity trains represents a key moment in the overall introduction of the two new Stadler fleets.

“These trains which will run into London are built to exceptionally high standards.

“They will vastly improve rail travel in East Anglia, supporting business and helping boost economic growth.

“They will be transformational for the travelling public in the region.”

The intercity trains are part of a £600million investment in new Stadler trains for the region.

They have been financed by Rock Rail East Anglia and will be leased to Greater Anglia.

Derek Monnery, chairman of the Essex Rail Users Federation, said it was a huge improvement.

He said: “They are a real improvement on what we have, the existing trains are more than 40 years old.

“These ones really are state-of-the-art and people will notice the difference.”