Eversholt Rail is to fully refurbish its fleet of Class 321s after signing a £60 million contract with Wabtec.
The announcement follows a successful trial of the modified Greater Anglia Class 321 Demonstrator between Southend, Chelmsford, Braintree, Colchester, Clacton, Harwich and Ipswich.
The programme will be called Class 321 Renatus, which means ‘reborn’ in Latin.
Andy Course, chief operating officer of Eversholt Rail Group, said: “We started this phase of the project in July 2014 and it is incredible to see what has been achieved in such a short space of time.
“Our partnership with Wabtec will raise the bar on what can be achieved in a mid-life upgrade and will deliver a great and cost-effective transformation in passenger experience.”
Ray Betler, chief executive and president of Wabtec Corporation, said: “We are pleased to be working with Eversholt Rail Group on this innovative project over the coming years.
“We have already invested in a new dedicated production facility in Doncaster with state-of-the-art systems and processes, and I am looking forward to delivering an exceptional product for passengers and operators.”
