To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 14 March, whether the electrification of the Great Western main line will include improved internal lighting in passenger carriages.
Answered on
21 March 2017
Two types of electric trains replace the existing diesel trains on the Great Western Main Line following electrification. Class 387 electric trains replace diesel commuter trains in the Thames Valley. They are brand new trains built by Bombardier to the most modern standards, including in respect of lighting and disabled accessibility. The first are already in service on the route between Hayes & Harlington and Paddington. The other type of train is the Intercity Express, which replaces diesel trains on the long-distance routes from Paddington. This is also a brand new train, built by Hitachi, again to the most modern standards, including in respect of lighting and disabled accessibility.