THE NEW, spacious £100 million trains have officially been unveiled before they hit the tracks on the c2c line.
Later this year commuters are set to benefit from more seating, Wi-Fi, and USB ports under every seat as the long-awaited new Aventra 720 trains are rolled out in south Essex.
On Friday, c2c unveiled one of the 12 new trains for a preview before they hit the tracks for passengers.
The Aventra 720s will offer more seating and are “open gangway”-style which allows customers to walk between carriages more easily.
They also boast dedicated cycle stores, power and USB ports for every seat, WiFi, improved passenger information screens, and toilets.
At the preview, Rob Mullen, c2c managing director, said he hopes the first of the 12 will be rolled out to passengers by September.
He said: “It is a big day for us here at c2c. It is incredibly exciting and I am really delighted to introduce these new 720 Aventra trains.
"They offer a real improvement on some of our customer proposition. They are spacious, the light goes through them, big windows, power at seat, better air con, and better Wi-Fi. They are a fantastic train.
"I think this a real step in the right direction. Our ambition is to modernise this rail network."
The trains had originally been scheduled to enter operation in 2024, but the rail firm managed to accelerate that date.
The firm’s order of 60 carriages will add capacity for more than 5,000 more passengers to c2c’s current fleet.
c2c runs trains from Fenchurch Street to Essex, including stops at Basildon and Southend Central.
Iain Palmer, head of security and revenue protection for c2c, added: “We really want to get them in service and really improve what our customers see and feel.
“It is important to us as a business to show what we want to achieve and ensure that we are putting customers at the heart of the things we do.
“I think these trains are a real statement as a business to invest in these trains. It is an added dimension to what we are currently offering.
“But it is also important in the form of a security perspective t00 as there is CCTV on board, and you can see through the whole train.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here