UK: Alstom's Technology Centre at Widnes has rolled out the first of 27 Class 175 long-distance 160 km/h regional diesel multiple-units to be refurbished in a £6·7m programme which is being undertaken for Transport for Wales.
The Alstom-built Class 175 has received TfW’s exterior branding, with interior changes including fitting USB and plug sockets, reupholstering the seats, replacing the tables and fitting new carpets and toilets.
‘The Class 175s have been in successful service over the last 20 years, and thanks to our fantastic team at Widnes, will be back in service in top condition within 12 months’, said Piers Wood, Managing Director Rolling Stock & Services at Alstom UK, on July 16. ‘Widnes has enormous potential to grow and be a focal point for the rail industry’.
Other TfW vehicles are also to be refurbished under a programme with a total value of £40m. ‘We know being able to travel in comfort and charge devices on the go are incredibly important to our customers, whether they are travelling for 20 min or 4 h, for business or pleasure’, said TfW Rail Services Customer Experience Director Colin Lea. ‘While we are investing more than £800m in brand new trains, they take time to build and we want our customers to have a comfortable experience right now.’
