Transport UK and East Midlands Railway (EMR) have confirmed that the first Aurora train from the operator’s new £400 million fleet will enter service this December, marking the beginning of a new era for Intercity travel across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.
Built by Hitachi Rail, the state-of-the-art fleet will transform journeys on the Midland Main Line, offering more seats, modern and spacious interiors, improved air conditioning, free high-quality Wi-Fi, plug sockets at every seat and upgraded customer information screens.
The 33 bi-mode trains will make use of the £1.5 billion Midland Main Line upgrade, operating under electric overhead lines where available and reducing carbon emissions by 66 per cent compared with existing diesel-only trains, providing quieter and greener journeys.
Each Aurora will offer 24 per cent more seats and more than 19 per cent extra legroom in a typical five-car formation compared with the Meridian trains they replace. Once all 33 trains are in service, EMR will deliver a 46 per cent increase in total seating capacity on the route.
EMR has also invested heavily in seat design. Working with Derby-based DG DESIGN, the company has adapted the FISA Lean seat to provide enhanced comfort and improved support while retaining essential practical features. These include power and USB points, generous legroom, coat hooks, large seat-back tables and under-seat space for cabin bags.
The fleet features a class-leading Wi-Fi system that uses multiple SIM cards to select the strongest available signal, while specially engineered glass will help improve mobile reception throughout the train.
Will Rogers, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway, said:
“The introduction of our first Aurora train this December marks the start of a new era for Intercity travel across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.
Our Auroras have been designed with our customers at their heart; with more seats, greater comfort, better connectivity and a smoother, quieter ride.
We and our colleagues at Transport UK are delighted to be delivering a railway that our customers, communities and our employees can truly take pride in.”
