THE FIRST Southeastern Hitachi Class 395 Javelin train has re-entered service following internal refurbishment as part of a £27 million scheme being completed by the operator, in conjunction with Hitachi and the owner of the trains, Eversholt Rail. A total of 29 Southeastern six-coach Class 395 EMUs operate domestic services between London St Pancras International and Kent on High Speed One at speeds of up to 140mph.
The first train to be completed, 395012, was admitted into Ashford depot on June 12 for work to begin on its internal refurbishment, with it re-entering service on August 14. The work involves:
■ A full interior refresh, including new carpets and seats.
■ A CCTV system upgrade.
■ USB at-seat charging points.
■ LED lighting installation.
Additionally, the live on-board passenger information system is to be upgraded to include media screens, with this work expected to take place from early next year. The trains are also due to have meters fitted to help reduce the energy and environmental impact of the fleet.
Southeastern’s engineering director, Mark Johnson, said: “Southeastern is committed to delivering better, more reliable and more sustainable services, supported by the fastest domestic passenger trains in the UK.
“With this refurbishment, we are going to make the experience for our passengers even better. Carpets, seats and sides have all been stripped down, repainted or replaced, with a whole new look and feel, improving the accessibility of the train at the same time for all of our customers.
“This is just the beginning of the programme, as later in the year we are upgrading the passenger information
