Makeover for Arriva commuter trains

Rail passengers on Arriva Trains Wales South Wales routes willbe seeing major improvements in the appearance of their trains nextweek as the first of the company's Class 150 commuter trains willenter service following major refurbishment.

The fleet overhaul is part of an ongoing programme of carriagerefurbishment and upgrading that will take place throughout2006.

The changes to valley and Cardiff local line trains willmean:

• brand new airline style seats with pop down tables, arm restsand more leg room
• seating arrangements where families can sit together
• refurbished toilets
• new seat covers in green, grey, burgundy and turquoise
• new panelling and flooring
• end of carriage panels depicting Welsh castles
• priority seating for disabled customers.

Gillian Bell, Head of Marketing for Arriva Train Wales,said:

We're very pleased with our new-look trains which willbe far more comfortable and better designed for our customers. Thisis part of a major fleet refurbishment and train branding programmewhich Arriva Trains Wales will be undertaking over the comingyear.

She continued:

The makeovers will mean that our trains will be inArriva colours and branding, both inside and outside, for the firsttime since we took over the responsibility for running trainservices in Wales two years ago.

In total, 13 trains will be refurbished over the next fewmonths. It takes 13 technicians – carpenters, welders, painters andelectricians – nine days to do the makeover, which takes place atArriva's train depot in Canton, Cardiff. Arriva plans tointroduce a refurbished train into service every two weeks.

Notes to editors

The first refurbished train to enter service will be unit number150285.

• Photographs: a newly refurbished Class 150 commuter train (unitnumber 150208)
• For background information on Arriva Trains Wales visitarrivatrainswales.co.uk.