Commuters using Greater Anglia’s rural train services will benefit from more seats, additional power points and upgraded heating and air conditioning as well as cleaner trains as the fleet is given a £5m upgrade.

For their last two years in the region before they are replaced by new hybrid trains, the company’s eight Class 170 “Turbostar” units are getting more seats and plug points, new flooring in the toilets, refurbished heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, new wall panels, repainted vestibules, grab handles and grab rails, a deep clean throughout and a new livery in Greater Anglia colours.

The work is beings carried out for trains’ owner Porterbrook Leasing who are investing £5 million into the upgrade of Greater Anglia’s eight three-carriage and four two-carriage trains which operate on routes including Ipswich to Cambridge, Ipswich to Lowestoft and Ipswich to Peterborough lines.

Greater Anglia’s Andrew Goodrum, said: “As part of the new nine year franchise we will replace our entire fleet of trains with 1,043 brand new carriages, but in the meantime, I’m delighted that the refurbishment of our fleet of Class 170 trains will provide improved comfort and a better travelling experience for our customers.”

Once Greater Anglia takes delivery of the new Stadler regional “hybrid” trains that operate on both electric and diesel power after 2019, these trains are expected to be transferred to other regions of the UK rail network.