Preparations for £27m Javelin upgrade revealed
THE first of Southeastern’s 29 Class 395 Javelin trains is due to enter Ashford depot for refurbishment in March next year as part of a £27 million project agreed between the operator, Hitachi Rail, and Eversholt Rail, the owner of the high-speed electric units. The five-car sets, which entered service in 2009 between St Pancras International and Kent, will receive new carpets and seats, a live passenger information system including media screens, an upgraded CCTV system, at-seat USB charging points and LED lighting. Southeastern says there is also scope for revised seating layouts to improve accessibility. Exterior roof-mounted cameras will be installed to monitor the condition of overhead lines and surrounding equipment.