New air-conditioned trains coming to Great Northern next month
The new class 387s for Great Northern - Credit: Archant
Next month new, air-conditioned trains are coming to the Great Northern route, which runs through Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Welham Green, Brookmans Park and Potters Bar.
Great Northern passenger services director Keith Jipps - Credit: Archant
The new trains are the first of three types that will replace almost all of the trains on the network, which are up to 40 years old, over the next three years.
The new class 387 trains, which are being introduced in October, will feature two-by-two seating with tables and power points throughout, modern passenger information systems, spaces for people in wheelchairs, fully accessible toilets and other features for people with disabilities.
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is also aiming for the class 387 to be more reliable than the existing trains.
From May next year, subject to work to be carried out by Network Rail, the new trains will also run on the Fen Line between Cambridge and King’s Lynn.
Tables and power sockets on the new class 387 trains - Credit: Archant
Great Northern passenger services director Keith Jipps said: “We’re introducing more reliable, modern air-conditioned trains that will keep passengers as cool as a cucumber and be great for people with disabilities.
“We think passengers will love the two-by-two seating and the power points at every seat.
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“This is part of an overall plan to replace almost all the trains on the Great Northern route by 2020 – and those few trains that will remain are themselves going through a £30m refurbishment programme.
“In just a few short years, we’ll be moving from one of the oldest fleets in the country to one of the newest.”
The new trains are part of a range of proposed service changes on the route that GTR has planned for 2018, which includes a new cross-London Thameslink service and doubling the number of semi-fast trains to and from Peterborough.
