Southeastern is expanding its operating fleet with 13 more Class 377 trains set to enter service between now and the end of 2025.
Following a joint agreement with Govia Thameslink Railway, Southeastern will have two additional Class 377 units in service for when the new timetable starts in December.
The Class 377 trains will provide a more reliable service and a better experience than customers currently experience with the existing trains, and feature air conditioning, at-seat plug sockets, and better passenger information systems.
Another 11 Class 377 trains are due to enter passenger service before December next year.
The new units are in addition to 23 existing Class 377s already operated by Southeastern, with Govia Thameslink Railway continuing to be responsible for their maintenance.
The new trains will allow older “Networker” trains on the Maidstone East and Tunbridge Wells lines to be retired from service.
They are part of a programme for upgrading Southeastern’s fleets of trains to provide a better and more reliable service and follow 30 new City Beam trains being introduced onto Southeastern’s Metro routes.
Southeastern’s new timetable, which starts on Sunday, 15th December, includes 220 more services across the Southeastern network and extending two evening services on weekdays from Charing Cross to terminate at Ashford International instead of at Maidstone East.
As well as the new trains, Southeastern’s Class 395 high-speed trains are undergoing a £27 million refurbishment project, with 22 out of the 29 units having already received a full interior refresh with new seats and carpets, LED lighting, and USB at-seat charging.
An announcement is due shortly about refurbishing the existing Metro fleet and a procurement programme for replacing the existing Networkers with new or upgraded trains, and 30 more Class 379 Electrostars will be introduced early next year.
“The arrival of these trains is a key milestone in our ongoing work to provide a more reliable service by modernising our fleet. “The Class 377s have better acceleration and braking than the Networkers they’re replacing. This should help us provide a more reliable service, while providing a better experience for customers.”
Sophie Barker, Head of Major Programmes at Southeastern
Responses
Does that mean Southeastern will also keep the Class 377/5 that were transferred from Thameslink/First Capital Connect when the Class 700 Desiro City came into service in 2016.