Customers traversing on the East Midlands Railway (EMR) routes will soon see optimised ergonomic comfort through new bespoke seating that will be incorporated into the ultramodern Aurora Intercity fleet.
Before their official roll-out into passenger services, EMR is inviting customers to gain first-hand experience with the contemporary seating displays at Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield station. Attendees will also be informed of EMR’s work to develop the interiors of this new fleet, including more progressive accessibility through extended luggage space, updated passenger information boards and a plethora of innovative designs to modernise the railway services and passenger experience.
Customers can attend these informative showcases through simply turning up to the aforementioned stations, as no booking is required. Standard seating will be available at Derby on the footbridge and in Nottingham station's booking hall, while First Class seats will be available to try at Sheffield station's main concourse.
Lisa Angus, Transition and Projects Director at East Midlands Railway, said:
“We are excited to showcase the new Aurora seats to customers and to allow them to experience first-hand how comfortable they are.
"It has taken a lot of work, but we are delighted with the seats, not only are they comfortable to sit in and look refined, but they are also easy to keep clean and include all the features passengers should expect from a new generation of trains.
"If you are passing through the station or in the area, feel free to pop in and see for yourself."
The new seating options will improve passenger comfort through increased cushion sizing, headrests, and armrests, whilst ensuring only the highest quality and durable materials are used throughout the build, such as a wool-rich moquette and leather. These designs have come from a collaborative effort between EMR and Derby-based design firm DGDESIGN, building upon the proven success of the FISA Lean seat, refining this existing product to offer enhanced comfort and visual appearance.
To fit with modernised technology integration within the carriages, EMR have ensured the seating will include all the practical and technological features that customers require, such as power and USB points, generous legroom, coat hooks, well-sized seat-back tables for all airline seats and space to stow a cabin-bag. Listening to previous passenger feedback, the trains themselves will also include air conditioning, free Wi-Fi throughout, plug sockets and better passenger information screens.
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