Thameslink has celebrated the commencement of a major makeover of its 115 unit fleet, a move which is expected to improve passenger experience on board.
In total, 3.6 million GBP in being invested in polishing 46km of exteriors across 1,140 carriages, as well as the repainting of toilets and applying of new interior wall vinyls to deter graffiti.
Additionally, every onboard area will receive a deep steam-clean at the Sussex depot in Three Bridges.
The Class 700 polishing project and toilet refresh has been funded by the Department for Transport and Greater Thameslink Railway, and is being delivered in partnership with Siemens.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said:These improvements show how passengers are being prioritised under public ownership and, as we move towards Great British Railways, making sure that travelling by train is a comfortable and positive experience.
This refresh on Thameslink services is just the start. Under public ownership, passengers not shareholders will be prioritised to deliver a safer, cleaner and more reliable railway.
The refresh forms part of a passenger-driven improvement plan now underway at the UK’s largest train operating company just after it transferred to public ownership on 31 May.
Additional improvements planned under the transition to Great British Railways include the recruitment of more drivers, creation of safer services, upgrade of signalling and improvement of overall customer communication.
