East Midlands Trains have unveiled the first of three newly refurbished High-Speed Trains has been unveiled in Derby this week.
These trains will provide more space for passengers, allowing you to have more comfortable journeys.
The improvements have been made available by a group of Derby-based businesses.
The first completed unit, DY23, is now fully refurbished and is undergoing final testing before it enters service next month.
DY22 and DY21 will be completed by the end of October. The trains will operate across the Midland Main Line, connecting Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham, and Leicester with London St Pancras International.
East Midlands Trains, Loram, SNC-Lavalin and DG Design have all worked together to deliver the improvements for passengers.
What did the officials say?
Chris Wright, Fleet Director for East Midlands Trains said:
“It has been fantastic to see the refurbishment of the additional High Speed Trains that we welcomed in to our fleet earlier this year, near completion. These trains are being upgraded and improved to match the standard of the rest of our main line fleet, helping our customers to have a enjoyable journey with us.
“It's particularly pleasing we have been able to provide these improvements by working locally with neighbouring suppliers, creating jobs and delivering investment into the local Derby rail industry.
“I would like to thank all the Derby rail companies who worked us and we look forward to seeing all the completed trains in customer service very soon.”
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HST’s will still be used on the MML for at least another 4-5 years (new bi-mode trains not expected to start appearing into service until 2023) & so these ex Grand Central sets need a refresh to bring them upto the same standard as the rest of the current EMT fleet.
Also, it has not yet been decided as to who will manufacture the bi-mode trains to be procured to operate on the MML!
This is because new fleet/s of train/s are a stipulation in the Invitation To Tender document for the next East Midlands franchise, that the 3 bidders for the franchise will have had to factor into their bids, which had to be in on 5th September.
The winner/preferred bidder for the next East Midlands franchise is to be announced in spring 2019, with the new franchise currently due to start on 18th August 2019.
So, we will not know who the potential manufacturer of these bi-mode trains is likely to be, for probably another 6-11 months?
Bombardier have indeed stated that when the tender is issued for new trains by the next East Midlands franchise holder, they will “throw their hat into the ring” & put their bi-mode train forward for consideration.
Hitachi have also said that they will also bid for the contract & I imagine that they’ll put forward a version of their AT300 train (Class 802)?
The bi-mode trains for the MML are certainly not a “done deal”!
But the Class 43 HSTs+Mk3 coaches used on East Midlands Trains are due to be replaced by the Bombardier Bi-Mode trains known as Aventra Bi-Mode in couple years. As Class 43s on GWR and LNER are being replaced by the Hitachi IET Class 800, Class 801 and Class 802. Except Crosscountry will retain the Class 43 HST’s and possibly inherit few more from LNER and some of Ex-GWR’s Class 43 HST and Mk3 coaches have been cascaded to ScotRail. Because of the Class 800 and Class 802 Bi-Mode IETs are slowly replacing them. Which both are currently in service.