UK-based rolling stock operating firm Eversholt Rail has awarded a £60m contract to Wabtec to refurbish its fleet of Class 321 Renatus, as part of the refurbishment programme.
The programme is designed to provide maintainability, cost effectiveness and create the look and feel of a new train environment for passengers.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Both the companies have been jointly working since July last year to bring a high-quality refurbished passenger train fleet to market.
The Class 321 refurbishment concept includes the production of a demonstrator unit with two styles of interior, which was used to gather operator and passenger feedback more than 15 months in service.
Eversholt Rail chief operating officer Andy Course said: "Our partnership with Wabtec will raise the bar on what can be achieved in a mid-life upgrade and will deliver a great and cost-effective transformation in passenger experience."
The company said that Class 321 Renatus builds on Eversholt Rail’s Class 321 Demonstrator programme that showed how a high-quality refurbishment and improvement programme on an existing proven fleet can deliver a passenger experience comparable with a new train at a lower cost.
The contract also covers the overhaul of an initial batch of 30 four-car units which are expected to return to service between mid-2016 and late 2017.
Work would be undertaken by a dedicated production facility at Wabtec’s Doncaster site.
Wabtec CEO and president Ray Betler said: "We have already invested in a new dedicated production facility in Doncaster with state-of-the-art systems and processes, and I am looking forward to delivering an exceptional product for passengers and operators."
