It seems that East Midlands Railway is trying to improve the passenger experience, with them unveiling its first refurbished Class 170 Turbostar Trainset.
East Midlands Railway Class 170 Turbostar at Derby Station – Image, East Midlands Railways
EMR’s refurbished Class 170 Turbostar is a step to improve comfort and convenience for regional customers.
The refurbished trains feature brand-new seats and tables, modern power and charging facilities (including 230V, Type-C and dual USB sockets), refurbished toilets, upgraded flooring, and a newly installed passenger information system.
The new seats
New power outlets
It also includes a dedicated bike storage area and redesigned interiors that will resemble the upcoming Class 810 Aurora trains, which are set to enter service later this year.
The refurbished Class 170 trains are owned Porterbrook, which were previously operated by West Midlands Railway. This overhaul ensures a more comfortable, reliable, and connected journey for customers across the region.
The interiors were designed by Derby-based DG Design, while the project was supported by a network of regional suppliers, with many of the suppliers involved were based in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and Crewe
In Quotes
Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, said:
“This refurbishment is more than just a lick of paint – it’s a complete transformation that puts our customers first.
“We’ve focused on creating an environment that is comfortable and functional – and it’s just the beginning. Over the next year, customers will start to see real, tangible improvements across our network.”
Ben Ackroyd, Porterbrook COO, said:
“Our investment in this Class 170 fleet ensures continued comfort, reliability, and performance to meet passengers’ evolving needs for years to come.
“It’s fantastic to welcome the first refurbished train back onto the network, and we’d like to thank our partners at EMR, Arriva Train Care, and all companies who have supported this significant milestone.”
Baggy Shanker, Member of Parliament for Derby South, officially unveiled the train at an event at Derby station. He said:
“These upgraded trains will make a real difference to passengers, providing a more comfortable, reliable and accessible journey for the thousands of local people who rely on these services every day for work, school, or visiting loved ones.
“But what makes this even more special is that so much of the work has been designed right here in Derby. We’re proud of our rail heritage in this city and it’s great to see this legacy continued.”
One Down, More to go
For EMR, this is the first of a major programme, with 44 Class 170 trainsets to go through refurbishment, made up of 27 Two-Car trains and 16 Three-Car units.
The next train in the programme is scheduled to enter service next month. Following that, a newly refurbished unit is expected to join the fleet each month.
These trains are workhorses in the EMR fleet, given they operate regional services across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, including: Matlock to Derby and Nottingham; Nottingham to Worksop via Mansfield; Newark Castle to Crewe via Nottingham, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent; Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln; Nottingham to Skegness via Grantham; Cleethorpes to Leicester via Lincoln and Nottingham; and Cleethorpes to Barton-on-Humber. It is also frequently used on the Liverpool to Norwich route.
The upgrade of the Class 170 fleet is part of a wider £60 million programme, which will also include the refurbishment of EMR’s Class 360 and Class 158 trains.
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