06.03.17
Eversholt awards £6m Class 320 upgrade contract to KBRS
Eversholt Rail has awarded the £6m contract for the upgrade of its 22-strong fleet of Class 320 trains to Knorr-Bremse RailsServices (KBRS) in another step to improve rolling stock on ScotRail services.
The upgrade, to be carried out in KBRS’s Springburn Depot in Glasgow, will include a total interior refurbishment of the carriages, at-seat power sockets, more cycle space, LED lighting as well as better signage and an improvement to the train’s CCTV system to improve security and safety on their services.
The programme is also hoped to bring in engineering jobs to the region whilst modernising the ScotRail fleet for their customers.
The production phase for the 66 carriages will begin in October this year and is hoped to be completed by early 2019.
Speaking of the contract award, Stephen Timothy, client relations director at Eversholt Rail, said: “We are delighted to be working with KBRS on this exciting refurbishment programme to deliver ScotRail’s train improvement commitments, which will bring great enhancement to the passenger experience across the network.
“This Class 320 contract is testament to our ongoing investment into our Scottish fleets, following the successful refurbishment projects on our Class 318s, and 334s, as well as deploying seven extra trains to add capacity and relieve overcrowding.”
Managing director of KBRS Nick Fitzwater added: “We are proud to be undertaking this work on the Class 320s for Eversholt Rail Group and to play our part in enhancing the passenger experience.”
The ScotRail Alliance’s programmes and transport director Ian McConnell said that he was excited about the upgrade of the trains and the benefit it will bring to customers on the services.
“The refurbishment of the class 320 fleet will deliver a much improved experience around Glasgow and Lanarkshire,” explained McConnell. “Customers using these trains will soon be able to enjoy a refurbished interior and at-seat power sockets.”
McConnell also spoke of his pride to be part of changing the face of rail travel in Scotland over the next two years with the introduction of the new class 385 and high-speed train fleets, adding: “By 2019, 90% of our rolling stock will either be new or refurbished, and two hundred additional services will run each day.”
Humza Yousaf, minister for transport & the Islands, added: “The Scottish government’s continuing investment of £5bn shows our commitment to our nation’s railways and this latest announcement of more refurbishment work on the class 320 fleet will deliver better trains for ScotRail passengers.
Yousaf went on to say: “The KBRS workforce’s excellent efforts on previous refurbishment programmes is recognised by this latest significant order which, in turn, helps provide more job security and boost the local economy in Springburn.
“Once this enhancement programme is complete, I know passengers will appreciate the modern on-train facilities which we all expect and I have already seen rolled out across the rest of ScotRail’s existing fleets.”
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