London Midland introduces new trains as part of £93m investment
RAIL company London Midland has upgraded trains operating on routes through Birmingham Snow Hill station.
The company, part of the Go-Ahead transport group, is putting 27 new trains into service as part of a £93m investment.
London Midland said the trains would serve around 8.5m passengers a year. All the trains are expected to be in service by the beginning of November.
Built in the Midlands, the new trains are replacing the group’s current fleet of diesel trains, some of which are 25 years old.
The new trains have air conditioning, more legroom, and in response to customer feedback, four seats across rather than five. Wheelchair users also get an easy-to-access dedicated space for the first time.
The carriages will have brighter interiors, carpets, CCTV, and a GPS-based audio/visual information system that automatically announces the next stop when the train is approaching the station.
Corridor connections at the ends of three-carriage trains mean that passengers and conductors can walk the length of the train for the first time at peak times, when running in six-carriage formations.
Since the start of the London Midland franchise in 2007, the operator has invested heavily in major improvements to its three main routes into Snow Hill – from Stratford-upon-Avon, Dorridge and Worcester. These have included several million pounds-worth of station improvements, including additional help-points on platforms, CCTV, real time digital information displays and the installation of self-service ticket machines. All stations have also benefited from brand new, high quality signage and an extensive redecoration programme.
Infrastructure improvements in collaboration with partners include the expansion of several car parks and an £80m resignalling project to improve reliability on routes between Birmingham and Stratford/Leamington Spa.
Alex Hynes, commercial director for London Midland, said: “Having completed a major programme of station improvements, the introduction of the new trains will revolutionise the travel experience on the Snow Hill lines.”
