First train from new Intercity fleet set to enter service

East Midlands Railway has confirmed that the first of its new fleet of Intercity trains will enter service next month.

The train operator has announced that the first Aurora train from its new £400 million fleet will enter service across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire in December.

According to the firm, the state-of-the-art fleet will transform the experience of customers as they travel on the Midland Main Line – providing more seats, modern, spacious interiors, improved air conditioning, free class-leading WiFi, plug sockets at every seat and clear customer information screens.

The 33 bi-mode trains will take advantage of the £1.5 billion Midland Main Line upgrade, with the ability to run on electric overhead lines – cutting carbon emissions by 66%, meaning quieter and greener journeys.

Will Rogers, managing director at East Midlands Railway, said: “The introduction of our first Aurora train this December marks the start of a new era for Intercity travel across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.

“Our Auroras have been designed with our customers at their heart; with more seats, greater comfort, better connectivity and a smoother, quieter ride.

“We and our colleagues at Transport UK are delighted to be delivering a railway that our customers, communities and our employees can truly take pride in.”

Each Aurora train will provide customers 24% more seats and over 19% more legroom in a typical five carriage formation, compared to the Meridian trains it is replacing.

Once the full fleet of 33 trains is in service, it will deliver a 46% increase in the total number of seats available for customers travelling on the Midland Main Line.

Transport UK’s EMR business went to great lengths to source and adapt a brand-new seat for the new trains.

Working closely with Derby-based design firm DG DESIGN, it has taken the proven product of a FISA Lean seat and refined it to offer enhanced comfort and support for customers.

At the same time, it has ensured the seats include all the practical and technological features including power and USB points, generous legroom, coat hooks, well-sized seat-back tables for all seats and space to stow a cabin-bag under each seat.

The new Aurora fleet also includes a new class-leading Wi-Fi system that uses multiple sim cards to select the best possible signal for customers.

Furthermore, thanks to specially designed glass, customers will enjoy stronger mobile signal.