EMR’s New Trains Enter Service

The first of East Midlands Railway’s new state-of-the-art trains has entered service today.

The £400 million Aurora fleet can run on both diesel and electric power and will use the recently installed overhead wires through Market Harborough, following electrification work between Kettering and Wigston.

The first of the new Aurora trains has entered service today

EMR says more of the 33 new trains will be rolled out on the Midland Mainline throughout next year.

Each Aurora will provide customers 24% more seats and over 19% more legroom in a typical five carriage formation, compared to the Meridian trains it is replacing.

Once the full fleet of 33 trains is in service, it will deliver a 46% increase in the total number of seats available for customers.

James Coxon from EMR spoke to HFM:

The first of the new Aurora trains has entered service today

The introduction of the new trains has faced delay but the arrival of the first one onto the tracks is being welcomed.

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien visited Derby to see the new trains said: “It is great to finally see these new trains on the line, and like many others I am looking forward to using them in service.

“This is long overdue, as they were commissioned under the last government but have been delayed. However, it is hugely welcome that they have entered service.”

“The current Meridian trains are definitely showing a lot of wear and tear after years of intensive use.

“It will be great to ride on these new trains, which are a vast improvement. The better WiFi and phone signal will also be something to look forward to.”

Neil O’Brien MP in the cab of one of the new trains