07.03.17
Greater Anglia’s first refurbished Class 170 to re-enter service
The first of Greater Anglia’s (GA) refurbished Class 170 trains is to re-enter passenger service in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Arriva Traincare undertook the upgrade project at its Crewe facility under contract to Porterbrook Leasing, who are investing £5m into upgrading GA’s eight three-carriage and four two-carriage trains operating on routes including Norwich to Cambridge, Ipswich to Cambridge, Ipswich to Lowestoft and Norwich to Lowestoft.
The project is expected to be completed in early 2018.
The refurbished carriages boast more seats and plug points, with the 170 270 train being the first to receive the much-anticipated upgrade. The carriages will also have new cushions, backs and covers, carpets, as well as new flooring in the toilets, refurbished heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, new wall panels, repainted vestibules, grab handles and grab rails, a deep clean throughout and a new livery in Greater Anglia colours.
Speaking of the works, GA customer service director, Andrew Goodrum, said: “As part of the new nine-year franchise we will replace our entire fleet of trains with 1,043 brand new carriages, but in the meantime, I’m delighted that the refurbishment of our fleet of Class 170 trains will provide improved comfort and a better travelling experience for our customers.”
Earlier this month, the operator lobbied the government for investment in the region’s rail infrastructure, laying out 10 key priorities that needed to be addressed for the benefits of the franchise’s commitments to be “fully realised”.
(Image: c. Greater Anglia)
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