• New USB and electric charging points, better seats and new toilets will feature on the Class 175 fleet.
• The Class 175 investment amounts to £6.7 million and is currently scheduled to run throughout 2020; the rest of the £40 million will be spent across the rest of the Transport for Wales fleets over the coming months.
• Transport for Wales believe this is a “major step to building a better railway for current and future generations.”

Transport for Wales will be investing £40 million in their long distance train services, starting with their Class 175 fleet. The first completed Class 175 train rolled off the production line in Alstom's Technology Centre in Widnes, Cheshire during the week commencing July 15th.

Customers will now be able to enjoy the use of USB ports, plug sockets and newly installed toilets whilst making journeys on the Class 175 fleet. There will also be new seat covers, new carpets and the exterior branding will be rebranded in TfW colours. All 27 trains within the Class 175 fleet will receive the investment, which will then be replicated on the other classes of train operated by Transport for Wales. 

TfW Rail Services Customer Experience Director Colin Lea said: "It's fantastic to be able to deliver these improvements for customers, which they rightly expect to see on a modern railway network.

"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 minutes or four hours, for business or pleasure. 

"While we are investing more than £800 million in brand new trains, they take time to build and we want our customers to have a comfortable experience right now.

"So this significant investment is another major step to building a better railway for current and future generations."

The Class 175 investment amounts to £6.7 million and is currently scheduled to run throughout 2020. The rest of the £40 million to be spent across the rest of the TfW fleet in the coming months.

Piers Wood, Managing Director Rolling Stock and Services, Alstom UK said: “The Class 175s have been in successful service over the last twenty years, and thanks to our fantastic team at Widnes, will be back in service in top condition within twelve months. Widnes has enormous potential to grow and be a focal point for the rail industry in the North West and UK.”  

Information Source: Transport for Wales