The train refit at Alstom introduced a £100 million makeover to the biggest train fleet of the South East, with increased comfort, digital connectivity, and reliability for millions of passengers a day served through several Govia Thameslink Railway services.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Alstom Train Upgrade Transforms South East England Fleet
Photo: Alstom

Alstom Train Upgrade Boosts Passenger Experience

It is also called Project Aurora, the five-year program uprated 1,222 carriages among Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, and some Southeastern routes. The all-technical requirements and materials were designed and provided by Alstom with the onset situation.

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Steve Harvey, Alstom’s Services Director for the UK & Ireland, called the achievement “a landmark in modern rail engineering.” Because Alstom has maintained these Electrostar units for more than two decades, the project reflects deep operational expertise and long-term commitment to fleet reliability.

Porterbrook funded the project, with Southern’s engineering departments implementing new plug and USB sockets, LED lighting, and intelligent digital displays. onboard systems are now connected with a new network backbone, facilitating remote diagnostics that minimize downtime and increase fleet availability.

Alstom Train Upgrade Strengthens Rail Performance

The Alstom train refurbishment also came with comprehensive engineering enhancements that minimize maintenance, lower emissions, and provide tangible advantages for passengers. The engineers incorporated power-saving lights, real-time displays, and passenger counting sensors that assist in the adjustment of service schedules with demand.

Safety improvements also involve forward-facing and track-debris CCTV that can be used to live stream and capture incidents to be studied. And with real-time observation limiting service discontinuity, the fleet is now running with more efficiency and robustness.

Overall, the refit commissioned 280 km of fresh cabling, 39,000 LED lanterns, and 36,000 power points. These upgrades aided Project Aurora to claim the award for “Fleet Achievement of the Year” at the 2023 National Rail Awards, cementing it as one of the UK’s biggest successful renewal projects.

With the last Electrostars returning to passenger service around London, Sussex, and Kent, Project Aurora is the epitome of innovation—combining engineering exactitude, environmentally friendly, and passenger-centric design.

Source: Alstom

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What is the Alstom train upgrade?

The Alstom train upgrade, known as Project Aurora, is a £100 million modernization program improving 1,222 carriages across South East England’s busiest rail networks.

How did the Alstom train upgrade benefit passengers?

It added USB sockets, LED lighting, enhanced Wi-Fi, real-time information screens, and improved reliability through digital monitoring systems.

Who funded the Alstom train upgrade?

The project was financed by Porterbrook, the UK’s leading rolling-stock leasing and asset management company, in partnership with Alstom and Govia Thameslink Railway.

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