The long awaited media roll out of the first First Great Western refurbished or 'refreshed' HST trailer stock took place at Bombardier Derby Litchurch Lane on 20 December 2006.

A total of 405 vehicles (or 53 sets) are involved in the refurbishment contract which is valued at £63million. 111 vehicles will be overhauled at Bombardier Ilford and 294 at Bombardier Derby Litchurch Lane.

The stock refurbishment is a total rebuild of the original vehicles, with a total gut of all original equipment with major structural repairs to corrosion in the roof, drag boxes and window frame areas addressed. The cars are then fully re-wired, repainted and then refitted. The interior features and style have taken more than two years to finalise and are the work of ex-Porsche and award winning Eurostar designer Michael Rodber and Mike Muldoon.

Rather than in keeping with previous refurbishments of HST stock, totally new seating has been included, in standard class these are supplied by the German company Grammer and are very like Virgin Voyager seats, they are said to offer improved support, comfort and safety. In the main to increase the number of seats per vehicle, seating is now predominantly airline style, with only a few fixed table seat positions. Each seat has a quality flap/fold down table able to support a food tray or laptop computer. 240V three-pin power sockets are provided on the center post at airline seats.

New bright coloured seat moquette in lilac and blue is used, which together with very intense lighting provides what is perhaps a too bright interior.

Toilets have been redesigned with new pans, wash basins and furniture. For the first time the toilet seat lid is held open by a magnetic catch and all now have a floor plug to improve wash out of the compartment.

In first class, FGW have tried to reflect the desires of the business traveller, with a more luxurious finish in taupe and blue. Seats are still in the 2 plus 1 style, but are to a new design by UK supplier Primarius UK Ltd, and feature leather coverings, these are designed in an ergonomic style which may not be to everyone's taste, but we are told are good for us and comfortable.

New tables have been fitted, and a 240V three pin socket is provided by each seat. Luggage stacks with glazed panels are provided at vehicle ends.

The traditional buffet car on FGW will soon be a thing of the past, with the serving space on all vehicle types in the 402xx, 405xx and 409xx series having a new design of Express Cafe, which with new ranges of refrigeration cabinets allow new products to be offered. A new coffee bean to coffee cup drink machine is installed in the main serving area, while the kitchen area still retains micro wave cookers and a hot water boiler.

The new serving counter has been redesigned for easier customer access with a sliding security gate which can be locked in a part closed position for late evening services where staff security could be at risk.

In both first and standard class vehicles new textured ridged carpets have been provided in the vestibules, dividers have been fitted in the overhead luggage racks, and hooks provided for coats. Wheelchair space is still provided in coach E, adjacent to the disabled access toilet.

The exterior of the vehicles, contrary to press speculation will include the stylish FGW 'dynamic lines' branding. The overall colour is however dark blue (as applied to the MTU powercars) with the First Great Western brand name centrally applied at waste height. Vehicle numbers are applied at solebar height in the centre of the vehicle.

FGWs Managing Director Alison Forster, a self confessed HST enthusiast hosted the Derby event and was "very impressed" with the new product, it is hoped that the travelling public will be equally impressed when the train is officially launched in mid-January. From spring 2007 one set every week will be delivered from Derby/Ilford, with the entire fleet in traffic by the end of the year.