AFTER a difficult start to autumn for passengers travelling between East Anglia and London, train company 'one' was today showing off the new fleet of carriages which it claims will transform travel on its main InterCity route.

AFTER a difficult start to autumn for passengers travelling between East Anglia and London, train company 'one' was today showing off the new fleet of carriages.

The company claims will transform travel on its main InterCity route.

'one', part of the National Express Group, has completed the introduction of rebuilt Mark III carriages on the route from London, through Ipswich and Stowmarket, to Norwich.

The carriages, which date from the late 1970s but have been completely refurbished, replace the older green trains which the company inherited from Anglia Railways.

Before moving to East Anglia, the carriages had been used on long-distance routes from London to Glasgow and the north west of England.

The refurbishment has cost £25 million and has seen the reconstruction of 118 carriages which are used to form 14 eight or nine car sets for use on the main line.

Managing director of 'one' Dominic Booth was on the train today together with managers and engineers from Network Rail who were in the unwanted spotlight at the beginning of September after a chaotic week with overhead wires being seriously damaged.

They were hoping to show that those problems were behind them and that passengers - both commuters and leisure travellers - could use the line to London with confidence.

As part of today's launch, 'one' linked up with the East of England tourist board to name a train Let's Go East of England.

Mr Booth said: “The upgrade of our mainline fleet of trains completes one of our key franchise commitments in transforming the standards of customer service and the on-train environment on our Norwich to London mainline route.

“I am also delighted to mark the completion of the upgrade project in conjunction with our partners at the East of England Tourist Board. The development of the 'Let's Go' campaign is a major boost for the region we both serve, providing economic and environmental benefits.”