20 year old Southeastern trains to get mid-life refurbishment
Southeastern’s 20-year-old Class 376 Electrostar trains are to undergo a mid-life refurbishment and upgrade of the passenger facilities.
The white fleet will also be repainted in the dark blue that Southeastern now uses for its newer trains. The 36 Class 376 Electrostars will also gain USB/power sockets and energy-efficient LED lighting as part of the refurbishment.
The work is getting underway at the Ashford Maintenance Centre with the first units to receive the new blue livery and LED lighting scheduled to be in customer service from the spring.
The interior refresh, which includes refurbished seats and a full re-paint, will start later in the summer at the Grove Park depot, with the first units due into customer service before the end of the year.
Mark Johnson, Engineering Director at Southeastern, said: “I’m thrilled that we will be upgrading the Class 376s with our partners at Alstom and Eversholt Rail. The mid-life refresh will deliver better journeys for our customers and keep these trains in tip-top condition for years to come.
“This builds on the upgrades across our other fleets, and the newer trains we are bringing in, as well as the ongoing procurement of new trains to replace our older Networkers.”
Hopefully they replace the frankly awful current seats which have the worst seat angles possible. With regards to the lighting though, hopefully they don’t replace with super bright white garish lighting .
I really hope they don’t either. Not sure why most train companies seem to think passengers have a yearning to do complex brain surgery or intricate needlework (or whatever else might warrant intensely bright lighting) during their journeys.
What the Electrostars need most is extra seats – there’s way too much standing room currently.
That’s not happening, so forget about more comfortable seats, their only changing the seat covers, that’s it.
Possengers need to keep their feet off the seats.
To say that these trains need more comfortable seating is an understatement. Currently, it’s horrendous.
You’ve obviously never used a Thameslink, by far the worst seats on the network, on some of the newest trains. Basically a sheet of metal with a bedsheet over them…
That’s not happening, so forget about more comfortable seats, their only changing the seat covers, that’s it.
I’m very excited to see the Class 376s turning blue this year, I’m also pleased that SE will install Power Sockets and USBs to the fleet, much needed refresh, but will definitely miss the white & yellow livery.
Good to see the basics of public transportation being prioritised for once. Such a rare thing these days.
As a Train Driver at South Eastern & South Western who has driven multiple tractions I have to say these 376’s are the best. If only they had a toilet!!!!