East Midlands Railway (EMR) has made public the initial concept images of the enhancements that EMR Connect and EMR Regional trains will receive as a result of a combined GBP 55.8 million investment.
EMR Connect Class 360 refurbishment
EMR has released the first conceptual images of the enhancements EMR Connect customers will benefit from following a GBP 27.6 million investment.
EMR’s electric Class 360 fleet currently serves EMR Connect and Luton Airport Express routes between Corby and London St Pancras, with stops at Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford, Luton, and Luton Airport Parkway.
The released conceptual images showcase the planned upgrades, designed to enhance the commuting, leisure, and airport travel experience. These enhancements include new 2+2 seating arrangements throughout the trains, featuring a blend of airline-style and bay seats.
The refurbishment will also include better luggage storage space and an updated CCTV system.
EMR Connect includes the EMR Luton Airport Express service, which provides a convenient, fast, and environmentally friendly way to get to London Luton Airport (LLA).
A trip from central London to the London Luton Airport terminal takes as little as 32 minutes and costs from just £10 when using the Luton Airport Express and Luton DART. Services depart every 30 minutes, from early morning to late at night, Monday to Saturday, with regular services on Sundays.
“We’re excited to share these first conceptual images of the upgrades. The £27.6 million refurbishment of our Class 360 train will be transformative – offering customers more convenience, comfort, and better facilities. We are proud to contribute to a sustainable travel option that not only offers a quick and frequent service but also significantly enhances the overall travel experience. We are sure the improvement in luggage space will particularly benefit customers travelling to and from London Luton Airport,” Simon Pready, Commercial Director for East Midlands Railway, said.
Siemens Mobility UK will oversee the refurbishment programme.
“We are delighted to be upgrading the Class 360s to deliver enhancements both to the passenger environments and technology to transform the passenger journey. Our Siemens Mobility teams at our Northampton and Bedford facilities are excited about this investment in the fleet and are busy mobilising for this project. My thanks go out to the depot team’s dedication for their daily hard work in keeping these trains maintained, keeping passenger journeys comfortable and reliable”, added Sambit Banerjee, Siemens Mobility Joint CEO UK & Ireland.
EMR Regional Class 170 and Class 158 trains refurbishment
East Midlands Railway (EMR) has also unveiled the first conceptual images of the enhancements EMR Regional customers that use Class 170 and Class 158 trains will benefit from following a GBP 28.2 million refurbishment.
EMR’s Class 170 fleet operates regional services across the East Midlands, including Matlock to Derby and Nottingham, Nottingham to Worksop via Mansfield, Newark Castle to Crewe via Nottingham, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent, Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln, Nottingham to Skegness via Grantham, Cleethorpes to Leicester via Lincoln and Nottingham, and Cleethorpes to Barton-on-Humber. It is also frequently used on the Liverpool to Norwich route.
EMR’s Class 158 fleet mainly operates on the Liverpool to Norwich route via Nottingham, Manchester, and Sheffield. The trains will receive new seat covers and foams, an interior refresh, and CCTV.
Work to be carried out by UK-based companies
This second refurbishment project will see the participation of all three major ROSCO’s in Britain: Porterbrook, Eversholt Rail and Angel Trains.
“Porterbrook is committed to enhancing our fleets to ensure they continue to meet passenger needs. This important investment in our Class 170s and 158s will provide a better on-board service for EMR’s customers, while supporting the UK’s supply chain which plays a vital role in the success of the railway,” said Porterbrook COO Ben Ackroyd.
“We will continue to work in partnership with East Midlands Railways to deliver this upgrade of our Class 170 fleet and improve the travelling experience for EMR’s customers,” says Paul Sutherland, Client Services Director at Eversholt Rail.
“Our continued approach to investment and partnership working is delivering multiple benefits and enhanced experiences to those who travel by rail. The refurbishment of our East Midlands Railway’s Class 158 fleet is no exception, and we look forward to delivering this project to EMR and the resulting improvements for passengers,” David Jordan, COO for Angel Trains, added.
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