Southeastern has marked a key milestone in the mid-life refresh of its Class 376 fleet, with the first upgraded train now in passenger service featuring a new livery and enhanced lighting.
Unit 376027 is the first of 36 trains in the Class 376 Electrostar fleet to undergo initial refurbishment, which includes a new blue exterior wrap and energy-efficient LED interior lighting. This marks the first phase of a broader upgrade programme being delivered in partnership with Alstom and Eversholt Rail.
The full refurbishment will include the installation of at-seat power and USB charging sockets, as well as refurbished seating. The first fully upgraded train is expected to enter service by the end of 2025.
The refresh programme is being carried out at Southeastern’s Gillingham Maintenance Centre, while the final interior and exterior enhancements will be completed at the Grove Park Centre of Excellence.
“We’re very excited to mark this first milestone in the refresh of our Class 376 trains. I’m sure customers will appreciate the bright, clean blue exterior and the improved lighting that we’ll have in the carriages. There is much more to come and the first train that has the full refresh, which includes power points for charging on the go and refurbished seating, will be in service by the end of the year,” Mark Johnson, Engineering Director at Southeastern, commented.
“We’re proud to be supporting Southeastern and Eversholt Rail in delivering a more modern and connected experience for fare-paying passengers across South East London. Alstom will soon begin providing the engineering expertise and materials for the fleet’s refurbished seating and installation of at-seat power – improvements that will make a real difference to Southeastern’s customers. It’s great to see the first upgraded train in service and we look forward to supporting the next stage of the refreshed fleet’s rollout over the coming months,” Peter Broadley, Commercial Director UK and Ireland at Alstom, added.
“It is fantastic to see the start of the refurbished Class 376 trains going into passenger service for the customers of Southeastern to benefit from. This first train showcases the new livery and lighting with further work taking place later this year to upgrade the seating and at-seat power to further improve the passenger experience,” Paul Sutherland, Client Services Director at Eversholt Rail, said.
Class 376 upgrade
The Class 376 upgrade forms part of a wider investment in Southeastern’s fleet, which also includes:
- A GBP 27 million refurbishment of the high-speed Class 395 ‘Javelin’ fleet;
- The transfer of 13 newer Class 377 trains from Govia Thameslink Railway;
- A completed upgrade to the Class 375 fleet;
- Plans to retrofit toilets to the Class 707 ‘City Beam’ trains;
- A procurement programme for new rolling stock to replace ageing Networker trains.
Southeastern operates services between London and Kent, as well as parts of East Sussex, including the UK’s only domestic high-speed train services. The Class 376 Electrostars have been in operation on Metro routes across South East London since 2004.
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