The first fully refurbished train from Southeastern Railway’s Class 376 fleet has returned to service as part of a mid-life overhaul targeting all 36 trains in the series. The refurbishment programme is being carried out in partnership with Alstom and Eversholt Rail.
The work includes internal and external upgrades. Interiors feature refurbished seating, at-seat power sockets including USB ports, and energy-efficient LED lighting. Accessibility features have also been updated, with high-contrast orange grab poles, clearer priority seat markings, anti-slip flooring at doorways, and improved external door button visibility. Externally, each train is being repainted in a new blue livery.
Refurbishment is being conducted at the Grove Park Centre of Excellence in south east London. Across the fleet, the programme will cover 11,000 seats, over 4,000 power sockets, and the installation of around 29,000 interior fittings such as panels and grab poles. The remaining trains will be progressively reintroduced into service throughout 2026 and 2027.
This mid-life refresh is one part of a broader fleet strategy by Southeastern. It follows the completed upgrade of the Class 375 fleet and runs in parallel with a €31 million (£27 million) refurbishment of the Class 395 high-speed fleet. The operator is also integrating 13 newer Class 377s and advancing procurement plans for a new Metro fleet.
