£3 million train upgrade in Norfolk and Suffolk
The Greater Anglia rail company has announced a £3 million upgrade to its fleet of local trains in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The train operator’s nine two-carriage Class 156 vehicles will receive a complete interior overhaul, including new carpets, seat covers and a deep clean as well as the installation of a new passenger information system which will deliver automatic announcements. The vehicles will also be fitted with a universal access toilet.
Each unit will also be painted in the company’s red and white livery. Work has already started and will be completed by late 2013. The work is being carried out by Railcare at their facility in Wolverton near Milton Keynes under contract to Porterbrook Leasing.
Therese Coffey MP for Suffolk Coastal whose constituency includes the Ipswich - Lowestoft East Suffolk Line, has welcomed the project.
– Therese Coffey, Conservative MP for Suffolk Coastal"I'm delighted that passengers on the East Suffolk line will benefit from refurbished trains with a nicer travelling environment, better information provision and upgraded toilet facilities. I'm pleased to see Greater Anglia delivering on their commitments to enhance train services on the Ipswich to Lowestoft line."
The Class 156 units are in operation on several routes across the Greater Anglia network including the Marks Tey -Sudbury, Ipswich - Cambridge, Ipswich - Lowestoft, Norwich - Great Yarmouth and Norwich – Sheringham lines.