£7.5m upgrade for Arriva Trains Wales

Improvements to include new seating and full refurbishment of toilets.

Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) are to get a ￡7.5 million upgrade.

The improvement programme will take place over the next 18 months, with trains in Arriva’s fleet undergoing a complete upgrade, including new seating, a state of the art Passenger Information System and improved luggage storage facilities, additional space for wheelchairs and a full refurbishment of toilets.

The Welsh Assembly Government funded refurbishment of the Class 158 fleet will be one of the most extensive of its kind the industry has seen to date, and is scheduled to begin in December 2010 with the programme for all 24 units expected to be completed by summer 2012.

Passengers will start seeing the refurbished trains come into operation from January 2011.

The funding agreed by the Welsh Assembly Government also enables the refresh of the Arriva Trains Wales Class 153 fleet. Eight units are due to undergo considerable improvement work including a full repaint of the passenger saloon, the replacement all flooring and fabrics, as well as a refresh to the toilet facilities.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “This Assembly Government investment in Arriva Trains will see a much better travelling environment for passengers with trains upgraded and modernised."

"There is strong growth in the number of people travelling on train services in Wales and we are investing in these improvements to make people’s journeys more comfortable and more enjoyable.”

Further information:
Arriva Trains Wales