UK: First Refurbished Class 170 Turbostar Returns to Operation

The first of a series of 29 refurbished Class 170 Turbostar trains has been reintroduced onto CrossCountry lines across the United Kingdom.

The remaining rail vehicles, which are in the midst of a multi-million pound fleet refurbishment programme, will be fitted with new tables, seats, carpets, plugs, USB sockets, new on-board toilets and enhanced passenger information screens.

Each carriage will also have a full interior and exterior repaint, as well as a new suite of CCTV and automatic passenger counting technology.

The project, which was financed by Porterbrook and carried out at Arriva TrainCare’s Crewe depot, will see the full refurbishment of 29 trains – a total of 80 carriages, and it set to be completed by 2028.

Ben Ackroyd, Chief Operating Officer at Porterbrook, said:

As passenger needs evolve, it’s important that our trains do too. That’s why we continue to invest in our fleets to ensure they meet customer expectations.

Alongside our partners at CrossCountry and Arriva TrainCare, we’re pleased to be able to present the first refurbished Class 170 into passenger service.