MP for North East Hertfordshire, Sir Oliver Heald, is welcoming news that Aviva Investors is providing funding for a new fleet of trains on the Great Northern Route.
£200m of funding is being provided to enable Govia Thameslink Railway to acquire 25 six-carriage units for use between Hertfordshire and London Moorgate, which will enter service by 2018. These will replace the current trains, which are from 1976, making them the oldest type of electric train in use in mainland Britain.
New features will include more space on board, air-conditioning, real-time information on passenger information systems, power sockets throughout, and on-board WiFi.
Commenting, Sir Oliver said, “I am very glad to see that improvements to our local rail network are on the way. The current rolling stock is out-of-date, and Aviva Investors’ support will help improve the service for people in North East Hertfordshire.”