First Aurora train to London has now entered service on East Midlands Railway. Together with Transport UK, the operator has begun rolling out its new Aurora fleet between Sheffield and the capital, a milestone also highlighted in an update from East Midlands Railway.

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

First Aurora train to London marks new era for EMR
Photo: East Midlands Railway

Aurora train from Sheffield to London: fleet and upgrades

Aurora train from Sheffield to London is the first unit in the £400 million Aurora fleet, as previously covered by Railway Supply. The train left Sheffield at 7 am yesterday with the very first passengers on board, heading for London St Pancras, as reported by RailAdvent. In total, East Midlands Railway and Transport UK will introduce 33 bi-mode trains that make use of Midland Main Line upgrades, helping to reduce carbon emissions by 66 per cent.

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Passenger benefits on East Midlands Railway Aurora trains

When the whole Aurora fleet is in service, East Midlands Railway expects a 46% increase in total seats on its Intercity routes. The new East Midlands Railway Aurora trains are designed to offer more capacity and a more comfortable environment, helping to make journeys across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire smoother for customers.

On board, passengers benefit from extra legroom, enhanced Wi-Fi, power and charging points, extra storage space and seatback tables. Taken together, these features are intended to modernise the passenger experience and raise the standard of Intercity travel on the Midland Main Line.

Will Rogers, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway, describes the launch of the Transport UK Aurora fleet as a landmark moment for the network. He notes that the first Aurora train to London, departing at 7 am from Sheffield to London St Pancras, marks the start of a new era for Intercity travel on their services, with more seats, legroom and luggage space, as well as enhanced Wi-Fi, passenger information and the ability to run on electric power, transforming what EMR and Transport UK can provide.

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