The £25 million upgrade of the Class 458 electric multiple unit (EMU) fleet for South Western Railway (SWR) has now been completed, with the final vehicle departing Widnes to re-enter passenger service.

The refurbishment has been financed by Porterbrook, which owns the Class 458 fleet.

Twenty-eight four-car units have been upgraded at the Alstom Transport Technology Centre in Widnes, taking two weeks to complete each set. Each unit now has new SWR livery, modern seats in a two-by-two formation – all with back tables and charging points – as well as space for two wheelchair users. The carriages have new carpets, and tables fitted with wireless charging points.

The vehicles have also been reconfigured to enable faster acceleration, and the Class 458’s powered wheelsets have been overhauled to give the trains an increased top speed of 100mph.

Neil Drury, Engineering and Infrastructure Director at South Western Railway, said: “We’re excited to welcome our newly refurbished Class 458 fleet back to the network. These upgraded trains provide a significantly enhanced customer experience, with improved seating and tables, new charging points, as well as space for two wheelchair users,”

He added: “We are grateful to Alstom and Porterbrook for partnering with us on this successful project, and to SWR colleagues for their hard work getting the trains back into service, which will strengthen capacity on our busy suburban network.”

Andy Bagguley, Fleet Services Director at Porterbrook, said: “Our Class 458s have proudly served South Western Railway’s routes for the last 25 years. We know that the needs of passengers evolve over time, so it’s important that our trains do the same, and that’s why we continually invest in our fleets to ensure they meet expectations.

“Thank you to our partners at SWR and Alstom, and to all the companies who supported the successful delivery of this complex project.”

Peter Broadley, Services Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom , said: “This refurbishment demonstrates Alstom’s commitment to delivering smarter, more sustainable and passenger-focused mobility solutions. The work completed at Widnes and Crewe not only enhances the passenger experience on the Class 458 fleet, but also showcases the value of British engineering and our investment in local expertise.

“We are proud to have supported South Western Railway and Porterbrook in this significant programme, ensuring that these trains are ready to provide better journeys for customers across London and the South East of England.”