NEW trains for Greater Anglia will be late arriving, because their manufacturer Bombardier has encountered software problems.

It is not the first time recently that trains from Bombardier have been delayed for this reason. Software problems have also affected the delivery of new trains for London Overground and Crossrail, although these earlier difficulties have been resolved.

The latest hitch at Derby means that the first of 111 electric trains for Greater Anglia suburban routes are no longer expected in the New Year. Instead, Bombardier has estimated that the first examples of the new fleet will not be seen until the spring.

The train builder said: ‘The reason for the delay is we have needed longer than we thought to complete the software development on the new trains.’

Greater Anglia said that Bombardier had ‘assured us that production is being ramped up, with extra staff at the Derby factory so that our customers can benefit from these state-of-the-art trains as quickly as possible’.

Greater Anglia is replacing its entire fleet with new trains. Stadler has already been delivering bi-mode and electric versions for the Norwich to London main line, Stansted Express and regional and local services in East Anglia, and these trains have been entering service since the late summer.