Southeastern has announced that the first refreshed Class 376 is now back in service.

All 36 Class 376 trains will get a mid-life refresh, which will see refurbished seating, power points, accessibility improvements, as well as a new blue livery.

Work is being carried out at the Grove Park Centre of Excellence in South East London, with refurbished trains arriving regularly in 2026 and 2027.

The upgrades to the trains, which came into service in 2004, are thanks to a partnership between Alstom, Eversholt Rail and South Eastern Railway.

Once complete, 11,000 seats will have been refurbished along with 4,000 power sockets installed and 29,000 panels, grab poles, trims and cappings.

You can see a video of the refurbished train here:

“It’s great to be celebrating this milestone and we will be welcoming refreshed trains regularly throughout 2026 and into 2027.  It’s just one part of our plan to deliver better journeys and it sits alongside our wider programme to improve our fleet, which includes the procurement of a newer, more accessible replacement Metro fleet that will be better for customers and taxpayers.” 

Dan Paris, Fleet Maintenance Director at South Eastern Railway

“The first Class 376 refurbishment marks a major achievement in working with Southeastern and Eversholt Rail in delivering a more modern fleet for passengers across south east London and Kent. At-seat power, amongst the other interior improvements, should make a real difference to the customers and it’s great to see the first upgraded unit back in service.”

Alstom Services Director, Steve Harvey

“It is fantastic to see the first of our Class 376 trains in service following the second phase of the refurbishment programme.  We are committed to upgrading our fleets to provide a much-improved passenger experience and encourage more people to travel by rail. We look forward to continuing to work with Southeastern and Alstom to support the ongoing work for the remainder of the fleet.”

Paul Sutherland, Client Services Director at Eversholt Rail