January 8, 2016 3.53 pm This story is over 97 months old

Virgin Trains East Coast unveils newly refurbished trains for 2016

“Added customer comfort”: Virgin Trains East Coast has unveiled the first of its newly renovated trains as part of a £40 million project.

Virgin Trains East Coast has unveiled the first of its newly renovated trains as part of a £40 million project to improve its customers’ experience.

All of Virgin’s trains are being given a makeover with new interiors bringing what the company describes as “added customer comfort and a touch of the glamour.”

Photo: Virgin Trains

Photo: Virgin Trains

£21 million has been earmarked to complete the refurbishment of the trains’ interiors, including adding “luxurious” leather seats to First Class, new carpets and fittings throughout.

The refurbishment programme, which also includes a £16 million investment in new diesel engines and the re-branding of the exterior of the trains, has been brought in ahead of the arrival of Virgin’s new fleet in 2018.

These trains are being built in the UK by Hitachi.

Photo: Virgin Trains

Photo: Virgin Trains

David Horne, Managing Director of Virgin Trains on its east coast route, said: “Our new fleet of trains arrive in 2018, but we want to ensure the trains people are catching right now deliver the same comfort and glamour for which Virgin Trains is known.”