First Great Western to get new stock

Bombardier’s refurbishment center in Litchurch Lane is redesigning the interior of 405 cars for the UK’s First Great Western railroad.

The first of the new cars are scheduled for introduction late next month. Michael Rodber, who designed cars for the Eurostar, did the new look. According to the Derby Evening Telegraph, First Western is spending £63 million (US$124 million) on the new rolling stock.

In Standard Class service on the high-speed trains, First Western has added drop tables large enough to accommodate a laptop computer and a drink, and installed power ports.

In First Class bombardier is fitting out the cars with leather seats, glass screens, new lavatories and an Express Café instead of buffet service.

In other news from the line, First Western began this month leasing out a platform site at the busy Reading Station to Vitaburst, a company that sells fresh fruit and health snacks and drinks.

The company is a startup operation with plans to expand throughout the UK. It opened its first outlet at Oxford Station in the UK last year.