Stansted Express

Criticism

In May 2009, National Express abolished off-peak fares on services from Stansted Airport. Therefore, all fares are considered peak (regardless of day or time travelled) and this is reflected in the price. People who live locally can obtain a discounted ticket by producing ID, though the discounted fare is higher than the previous off-peak fare.^[3] It should however be noted that combinations of tickets may be used, as long as the train stops at the station where one ticket's validity ends and the other's starts. As of 2011, a saving of £4.20 could be made on the £21 single fare to the airport.

In September 2010, advertisements for Stansted Express at Stansted Airport were banned because they were deemed misleading, advertising a 35-minute journey time to London. The Advertising Standards Authority believed the advertisements might confuse travellers into thinking that the train would reach central London in 35 minutes. National Express defended the adverts, stating that Tottenham Hale allows access to the Victoria Line and also stating that the adverts made no reference to the trains going into central London in 35 minutes.^[4]

Current fleet

As part of the 1,300 new carriages to expand the UK's passenger rail fleet, Stansted Express was designated to receive 120 new vehicles. In February 2009, it was announced that Bombardier Transportation would produce the new trains.^[5] Bombardier announced on 2 April that a contract had been signed for the delivery of the 120 coaches between December 2010 and March 2011.^[6] The first of the new Class 379 units entered passenger service on 3 March 2011. All the Class 379s are now in service on Stansted Express services.

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Quantity	Routes operated	Built
			mph	km/h
Class 379 "Electrostar"		electric multiple unit	100	160	30	Liverpool Street - Stansted Airport	2010-2011

Future fleet

As part of the new East Anglia franchise, new trains are to be introduced on the service; these will be 10 12-car Stadler Flirt sets.^[7]

Past fleet

Stansted Express originally used a fleet of five Class 322 EMUs until it was decided to change to a dedicated fleet of nine Class 317/7 EMUs in 2000, further supplemented by twelve Class 317/8s in 2006. The displaced Class 322s were redeployed on several other routes/franchises around the country before settling into their former role in Scotland, working services between Glasgow/Edinburgh and North Berwick; they stayed there for some time before transferring to Northern Rail, working out of Leeds. Following the arrival of the new Class 379 units on Stansted Express services, the Class 317/8s were used alongside Class 317/5 and 317/6 units as a common pool. However, since Abellio took over the East Anglia franchise on 5 February 2012, the Class 317/7s have entered storage.

Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Quantity	Routes operated	Built	Withdrawn
			mph	km/h
Class 317/7		electric multiple unit	100	160	9	Liverpool Street - Stansted Airport	1981-1982	2011
Class 317/8		electric multiple unit	100	160	12	Liverpool Street - Stansted Airport	1981-1982	2011
Class 322		electric multiple unit	100	160	5	Liverpool Street - Stansted Airport	1990	2000