The space age train now arriving …

Commuter revolution: New trains in use on Waterloo line from 2019

THE BOROUGH’S commuters are being promised extra seats on state-of-theart trains after the new South Western franchise operators announced an order for 750 new carriages.

In August, FirstGroup and MTR will take over the franchise, which serves the London Waterloo line that passes through Earley, Winnersh and Wokingham.

The 90 new trains formed part of their bid and are capable of reaching speeds of up 100mph.

The new carriages will include free wifi, phone charging points, real-time information screens, air-conditioning and wide gangways and doors which FirstGroup says will improve getting on and off the trains.

An artist’s impression of the new Aventra trains which will start running between London Waterloo and Wokingham from 2019