Alstom-built c2c and Greater Anglia trains have become the first in Anglia to carry the new Great British Railways identity following a refurbishment programme at Ilford Depot.
The first Alstom-built trains to carry the new Great British Railways (GBR) identity in Anglia have been unveiled at London Liverpool Street station, marking another step in the Government’s plans to create a more integrated railway for passengers.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy joined representatives from Great British Railways Anglia, Alstom, c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia to unveil two c2c Class 357 Electrostar units and two Greater Anglia Class 720 Aventra trains in the new red, white and blue GBR livery.
The launch reflects the creation of GBR Anglia, which brings together c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia under a unified leadership structure designed to improve coordination between infrastructure and train operations. The organisations said the closer alignment is intended to improve reliability, resilience and customer service while enabling faster operational decision-making.
Refurbishment programme reaches new milestone
The two Class 357 Electrostar trains displayed at the event were repainted by Alstom at its Ilford Depot in east London. The facility has completed refurbishment work on 53 trains as part of a programme covering c2c’s entire fleet of 74 four-car Class 357 units.
The project includes stripping back the vehicles, repairing exterior components and applying a new waterborne hydro topcoat designed to reduce volatile organic compound emissions while protecting the trains from corrosion and wear. Each refurbishment takes around 20 days to complete and is intended to extend the operational life of the fleet while maintaining reliability and improving the passenger experience.
The remaining Class 357 trains in the programme will also receive the new Great British Railways branding.
Lord Peter Hendy said: “By uniting track and train under one identity and leadership in Anglia, we’re creating a more reliable service that will put passengers first.”
Mitchel Sheffield, Senior Operations and Project Manager at Alstom, added: “It is great to see many of our Derby-built Class 357 trains in passenger service following their exterior refresh works – even more so seeing two units in the new GBR livery.”
Built at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane facility between 1999 and 2002, the Class 357 fleet operates across the c2c network alongside the newer Class 720 Aventra trains, which were also built in Derby. Greater Anglia also operates a fleet of Class 720 units.
Ilford Depot, which opened in 1949, specialises in rolling stock modernisation, refurbishment, painting and overhaul. Its capabilities also include European Train Control System (ETCS) installation, traction system replacement, vehicle rewiring, structural repairs and asset life extension projects.
Daniel Skinner, Paint and Refresh Lead at Alstom, said: “It has been an honour for our team at Ilford Depot to help deliver this newly painted GBR branding to the public.”
Alstom said its modernisation work supports operators throughout the lifecycle of their fleets by improving reliability, reducing environmental impact and enhancing passenger comfort as rail reform progresses across Britain.
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