East Midlands Railway (EMR) has begun rolling out refurbished trains across its regional routes as part of a £23 million investment to modernise its aging fleet and improve passenger experience.
The programme focuses on the Class 170 fleet, which has not seen significant upgrades since entering service in 1999. The overhaul includes new seating, carpets, improved signage, CCTV, USB charging ports, and onboard Wi-Fi. The updated interiors are designed with a more neutral, business-friendly aesthetic, moving away from older, mixed-design models previously inherited from various operators.
One fully refurbished train is already in service, with the remaining 43 units scheduled for phased upgrades over the next 18 months. The Class 170 trains operate on several key regional routes, including Matlock to Nottingham, Mansfield to Worksop, Derby to Stoke-on-Trent, and the longer Liverpool to Norwich line.
This refurbishment is part of EMR’s broader fleet transformation, including upgrades to its Connect fleet operating between London St Pancras and Corby. Later in the year, EMR plans to introduce new bi-mode trains for its Intercity services on the Midland Main Line.
