Chiltern invests £5.3m in new-look trains for Mainline’s second anniversary

CHILTERN Railways has announced a £5.3m investment in its trains two years on from the launch of its Mainline service.

The new-look trains, the first of which arrives at Birmingham Moor Street today, have been designed to emulate the style of the company’s existing silver inter-city trains. Kitted out with new carpets, seat covers and tables, they have all the facilities of the popular silver trains.

Chiltern said the new trains offered a more comfortable space for passengers travelling along the route and added that the upgrade had been funded without calling on the taxpayer.

The investment is the latest in a series of self-funded initiatives carried out by the train operator. The launch of Mainline cost the firm £250m and the investment was made to deliver faster journey times between Birmingham and London.

Furthermore, Chiltern Railways is about to start construction of a new rail route between Oxford and London Marylebone. It is the first new rail link between two major British cities for 100 years and the company said the move reinforced its appetite for growth.

Rob Brighouse, Managing Director at Chiltern Railways said: “As rail plays a vital role in the economic prosperity of the country, we’re constantly looking at ways to give our passengers the best service possible.  On the second anniversary of Mainline we must not be complacent. The upgrade to an entire fleet of our trains will create a comfortable and modern space on a par with our popular silver trains. What’s more, we’re proud that we have been able to make these significant improvements without recourse to the taxpayer.”

A rolling programme will see the entire fleet of Clubman trains updated by 2016.