£10m Class 375 upgrade

THE entire fleet of Southeastern Class 375 EMUs will be upgraded in a deal worth £10m. Eversholt Rail, which owns the Bombardier-built units, has agreed a contract for the operator to carry out the work at one of its own depots. The design phase of the project began in August and the first EMU is expected to receive modifications in December. All 112 trains are due to be completed by the end of 2024. LED lighting and at-seat USB charging will be installed. The sets will be fitted with energy meters to provide accurate gauging of their electricity consumption. As part of a two-year trial, one vehicle will also be fitted with a bioreactor toilet system, using biological decomposition to break down solid waste and clean waste water. It requires less frequent emptying than conventional toilets.