Over 10,000 more train seats will be available to passengers from Wednesday 2 January compared to last year, after rail operator Great Western Railway (GWR) took delivery of its final Class 800 intercity train.
As commuters return to work, they will be able to do so on any one of 658* new carriages that have come into service in the past 18 months on the Great Western network, including 478 new Intercity Express Train carriages.
Before Christmas GWR took delivery of its final Class 800 Intercity Express Train (IET) from manufacturer Hitachi, with a further 127 (Class 802) carriages - 15 trains - still to be rolled out during 2019.
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:
“The new Intercity Express Trains have already helped us increase seats on the journeys they operate by almost a quarter, and in the past three months are proving 20% more reliable than the older trains they are replacing. And they’ve helped deliver some of the best on-train satisfaction scores for some time – including improvements in seat comfort and on-board information.
“From the New Year, thanks to the progression of Network Rail’s electrification programme, we will also be able to run electric trains to Newbury for the first time. We promised to deliver the biggest fleet upgrade in a generation during the course of this franchise, and I am delighted to be able to mark a major milestone in achieving this.”
Replacing 40-year-old High Speed Trains, the IETs have up to 24% more seats per train, and prior to the significant timetable changes due during the year to come, the trains are already providing 10,000 more seats every day, building on fleet improvement made during 2017.
Managing Director of Hitachi Rail Europe Karen Boswell said:
“Thanks to the hard work of our teams across the country we’ve now delivered all the Intercity Express Trains for GWR’s mainline route, benefitting millions of journeys. From our train factory in the North East through to our dedicated maintenance teams in London, Bristol and Swansea, we are proud to be part of the Great Western family.”
Following completion of Network Rail’s electrification to Newbury new Electrostar, suburban commuter, trains have also been able to run to the town for the first time having been rolled out across London and the Thames Valley during late 2017 and 2018.
Network Rail Western Route Managing Director Mark Langman said:
“Passengers from London to the west and south west are now seeing the huge benefits of the biggest modernisation of the railway since it was built following years of upgrades and unprecedented investment.
“We have worked closely with GWR as the railway has been transformed in all regions that we cover. Passengers are now benefiting from thousands of extra seats, more frequent services and better journeys on new trains from Cornwall through to London and in all the communities we serve in-between.
“In 2019 the transformation will continue including in January where electric services will start at Bristol Parkway and Newbury for the first time.”
The Class 387 Electrostar trains enabled GWR to provide a 10% increase in capacity into and out of London Paddington in the morning peak in January 2018 when compared to January 2019, and will add a further 20% more seats for customers travelling form Newbury.
The new Electrostar trains are delivering consistent, high quality travel for customers across the Thames Valley, offering at-seat power sockets, air conditioning, extra luggage space and free WiFi for customers. Their wider roll out means the train operator is able to cascade older rolling stock to other parts of their railway network further improving customer’s experience.