Chiltern Railways has proudly launched its first refurbished Class 168 train at London Marylebone Station during a special event attended by rail partners and user groups. The refurbishment was carried out at the Arriva TrainCare facility in Crewe and includes several significant upgrades:
- Comprehensive Maintenance: This includes battery and air system overhauls among other modifications.
- Exterior Repaint: The units have been given a fresh new look.
- Interior Investment: A multi-million pound investment has been made to upgrade the passenger environment.
- Passenger Enhancements: New Wi-Fi systems and USB charging sockets have been installed.
- Fleet Reliability: Various improvements have been made to enhance the reliability of the fleet.
During the launch event, guests were treated to a performance by a string quartet and a unique AI experience, allowing them to take futuristic images with the train as the backdrop. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured notable attendees including Arriva UK Trains Managing Director David Brown, Chiltern Railways Managing Director Richard Allan, Rachel Blake MP (Cities of London and Westminster), and Porterbrook COO Ben Ackroyd.
The first fully refurbished train is now in service, operating on Chiltern Railways’ main line routes between London Marylebone, Oxford, and Birmingham.
Ben Ackroyd, Chief Operating Officer of Porterbrook, said:
“The 168s are an excellent fleet and have been serving Chiltern passengers well since they were introduced. This refurbishment programme will ensure these trains continue to serve passengers comfortably and reliably for many more years to come.
“This significant milestone would not have been possible without a true partnership approach – congratulations to everyone involved in the project.”
Richard Allan, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, said:
“Chiltern has a comprehensive vision and three-stage plan to modernise and decarbonise our railway for our customers and neighbours.”
"The first part of the plan is to improve our existing trains with £12m being spent on 85 carriages that were built in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
"The first train to benefit from that investment is now back in service following a refurbishment that means customers will experience new seat cushions and covers, new carpet, new lighting, better WiFi and new plug sockets that include USB charging points.
"I am impressed with the end result and hope it is welcomed by customers."
The remaining Class 168 trains will be refurbished and ready for passenger service in the coming months.
Image credit: Porterbrook
