Eversholt Rail has released further details of exactly how its Class 321 Renatus programme will breath new life into some of the older members of East Anglia’s train fleet.
The £60 million modernisation project includes the installation of new air-conditioning and heating systems, toilets, lighting, seating and a complete renewal and remodelling of the interior of 30 Class 321 units.
The first train will arrive in Doncaster next month and will be back in service early next year, Eversholt has said. The first 10 units will be returned to Abellio Greater Anglia by October 2016.
A further £5.5 million is being invested to fit new traction and braking systems to the Class 321 Demonstrator, which will be carried out by Vossloh Kiepe UK Limited at Old Dalby.
Why not refurbish all of the Class 321’s that Abellio Greater Anglia are to keep for at least 10-15 years with new traction motors, toilets, windows, air-conditioning and the interiors (floors & seats).
That will be the next step, if the first 10 units are proved successful.
By time the franchise may be taken over by either First Group (First Eastern Trains or First West Anglia & First East Anglia) or National Express (National Express East Anglia & National Express West Anglia) or if Abellio wins as they be merging with Stagecoach then it should be renamed back to Greater Anglia if they win the franchise in October next year.