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FGW roll-out first refurbished Class 158

The first of 21 First Great Western Local lines Class 158s No. 158761 to be refurbished was rolled out at Wabtec Doncaster on 26 September 2007.

The project is part of an £11million investment being made by FGW in its DMU fleet and will cover 21 Class 158s to be refurbished at Doncaster, 11 Class 153s to be overhauled at Wabtec Eastleigh and 17 Class 150s and 8 Class 143s to be overhauled by Pullman Rail in Cardiff.

Apart from full interior refurbishment and technical upgrade, including CCTV and laminated glass, the most noticeable part of the project is to re-livery the trains into the latest 'dynamic' lines livery, with the bodyside lines being formed of a selection of beauty spots, tourist attractions, pubs and even schools on the line of route, suggested by members of the public following a regional competition.

On the Class 158s, the seating layout has been changed, while retaining the 2+2 mix of airline and facing groups, but providing better disabled access.

The budget for the interior improvements is £4 million and the key features of the new look trains include:

  • A vibrant new colour scheme of lilac and blue  
  • New toilets, including a drain-away floor, which has been designed for easy  cleaning  
  • New floor coverings have been fitted throughout  
  • New lighting gives an improved, overall ambience  
  • Re-upholstered  seats  
  • On the Class 158s, the seating has been reconfigured to allow a turning circle for  wheelchairs  
  • Interior  panels to be re-sprayed or replaced  
  • All  heater covers in the saloons and toilets have been renewed  
  • New tables have replaced the old ones  
  • Increase  in bicycle storage spaces  
  • New litterbins have been fitted  
  • New grab handles have been fitted on the seats
The interior design is the work of Michael Rodber, who is responsible for First Great Western’s new-look fleet of HSTs, which were unveiled earlier this year.  He has also worked for Porsche and Eurostar and has designed many of the groundbreaking new trains around the world.

Andrew Haines, First Great Western’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We recognise that these trains provide a valuable local service for commuters and leisure users.  When we took over the Greater Western franchise in April 2006, we inherited and brought in a variety of trains, all with different liveries and interiors and, as part of our franchise commitment, we are improving the reliability and making journeys more comfortable for our customers.  Apart from the cosmetic effect of new livery and the improved comfort of new interiors, the technical improvements will significantly raise the reliability of the fleet and bring it up to the standard our customers deserve.”


The new exterior finish to FGWs Class 158 fleet, as shown on set No. 158761 at Wabtec Doncaster on 26 September 2007. Brian Morrison
The refurbished Class 158s revised interior, showing the 'dynamic lines' seating moquette and lilac and blue colours. Brian Morrison

 

Last Updated: 30 September 2007
 
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