New £1billion ‘hoover’ trains rolled out across major city – they will prevent overcrowding & have powerful air con
COMMUTING in the summer heat can be an almost unbearable experience for Brits.
While our temperatures may not reach the scorching highs of other countries, it can feel just as bad on a crowded train car with no air conditioning.
AlamyA new fleet of trains will serve commuters at one of the country’s busiest stations (stock image)[/caption]
Certain commutes in London can feel particularly unpleasant during the summer months.
Most notably, any route which takes you through Waterloo Station, the capital’s busiest train station.
This bustling south London hub has been plagued with overcrowding for years.
And now steps are being taken to tackle this issue, with dozens of new trains set to roll out soon.
This new fleet, which has been dubbed “platform hoovers”, will serve routes through Waterloo and across London.
The 10-carriage trains, which total to £1 billion, will be able to carry about 50% more passengers than the current ones in service.
This fleet was first promised in 2019 by South Western Railway (SWR), but currently only 14 of the proposed 90 Arterio trains are in service.
These ambitious new locomotives will be air-conditioned and fully walk-through.
They will also be equipped with wi-fi, charging points at every seat, real-time information, and accessible toilets.
SWR hasn’t confirmed when the full fleet will come into service, however it has promised that “more” trains would be rolled out “over the coming weeks”.
This comes after Labour MP Fleur Anderson raised concerns about platforms at Putney and Wandsworth Town stations becoming overcrowded.
It was reported that the station was so busy that people were unable to board trains, which the MP referred to as “extreme overcrowding”.
“These new trains, which are great, have been announced several times. They’re coming,” Anderson previously told the Standard.
“The rollout has been really, really slow… But I’ve met with the chief executive and he is now going to consistently roll out more every week.
“It is really, really late but it is finally good to have them coming.”
New fleet facts
There has been a £1 billion investment in a fleet of up to 90 new Arterio trains.
There are currently 14 of the new trains in service, running on over 160 weekday services.
They were originally slated to enter service in 2019, but first passenger operations didn’t begin until January 2024.
The fleet can hold up to 50% more passengers than the current trains.
They will feature air‑conditioning, walk‑through carriages, Wi‑Fi, charging points at every seat, real‑time passenger information, and accessible toilets.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for SWR shared a statement on the new fleet.
“We’ve introduced eight more trains in the past two months and, as of today, we are running 14 Arterios on more than 160 services every weekday, on routes to Dorking, Guildford, Hampton Court, Kingston, Reading, Shepperton, Twickenham, and Windsor & Eton Riverside.
“We’re looking forward to many more customers enjoying the increased capacity and comfort the Arterios bring to journeys as we introduce more trains into service over the coming weeks.”
More on trains
Meanwhile, a new £3 billion fleet of more than 90 air-conditioned underground trains has been delayed for another year.
And a small English town is set to open a new £42 million train station that will reopen key link shut for over 60 years.
Britain’s busiest railway will be shutting down for three weeks next month for a £20 million demolition.
Plus, a new £15 million train station linking tiny town to three major destinations has been unveiled in a new satellite photo.
And an English train station is set to shut for two years ahead of a major £11.5 million revamp.
APWaterloo Station, named the busiest station in London, will see the fleet slowly introduced over the coming months[/caption]
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