THE Great Western Railway (GWR) has completed a £10 million refurbishment of its regional and suburban train fleet, enhancing the journey experience for its passengers. The ambitious three-year programme, undertaken by Gemini Rail Services in Wolverton, has refreshed the interiors of 57 Class 165/166 Turbo units leased from Angel Trains.
The extensive refurbishment included new flooring, a repainting of all surfaces, and repairs to seating, with a full strip-out and renewal of internal fittings. The makeover is part of GWR’s broader commitment to improving service standards and offering passengers a more modern and comfortable experience.
Dr Simon Green, GWR’s Engineering Director, expressed his satisfaction with the project’s outcome: “This is all part of our commitment to improving the journey experience for our customers. We’re delighted with the results and hope our passengers enjoy the refreshed feel of our carriages. This has been a really good demonstration of the railway industry working collaboratively, and I’d like to thank Angel Trains and Gemini Rail Services for their diligence over the past three years.”
Dr Green also emphasised GWR’s dedication to investing in infrastructure and modernising its services. “This work demonstrates our commitment to investment and development in services, infrastructure, and the future. We’re dedicated to modernising and expanding the network and ensuring efficient and reliable services,” he said.
The upgrade programme involved 20 two-car Class 165 trains, which operate routes such as Gloucester to Frome and Bristol local services, alongside 16 three-car Class 165s and 21 three-car Class 166s, which serve routes including Cardiff to Portsmouth and the North Downs line from Reading to Gatwick.
Gemini Rail Services’ Chief Operating Officer, Sean Forster, also hailed the success of the project: “We are very pleased to have successfully delivered this project through an effective partnership with GWR and Angel Trains, and all the team at Gemini look forward to working with GWR again, delivering future projects that continue to improve rail passengers’ experience.”
David Jordan, Angel Trains’ Chief Operating Officer, added: “Thanks to Great Western Railway and Gemini for the successful refurbishment of our Class 165 and 166 trains. These improvements will make the journey more enjoyable for passengers, which we hope will lead to more people choosing to travel by train in the South West.”
The refurbishment process began in September 2021, with each train unit taken out of service for approximately four to five weeks. The overhaul included repainting all interior panels, luggage racks, doors, and other fittings, along with repairing and replacing seats and floor coverings. In addition, eight Class 166 units received an exterior repaint in GWR’s green livery, aligning them with the rest of the fleet.
This significant investment in GWR’s fleet is expected to improve passenger satisfaction and further encourage rail travel across the South West and beyond.
