OREANDA-NEWS. March 12, 2014. Passengers could have been excused for thinking they were boarding a brand new train on the Great Northern route/

The first of 40 upgraded class 365 First Capital Connect trains has entered service. Over the next two years, as more are transformed, passengers on the Great Northern route will be travelling in better, brighter and more modern and comfortable carriages giving them better value for money.

This train is the first to have been given a new look on the inside and out with fresh seat upholstery, new flooring, refurbished finishes and external livery designed to be neutral to save the public purse money when the franchise takes on a new name in September 2014. It has also been through a major engineering overhaul to maintain its excellent levels of reliability.

Other trains in the fleet will be fitted with enhanced features for people with disabilities and mobility impairments from summer 2014 which will later be retrofitted to earlier trains that have already been refreshed. These features will include a new fully automated passenger information system with audio and visual announcements.

David Statham, First Capital Connect Managing Director, said: “The upgraded train looks and feels like a new train and I am delighted our passengers can now enjoy a more comfortable and modern travel environment reaching several exciting destinations between London King's Cross and Cambridge, Peterborough, and King's Lynn

“This major upgrade provides better, brighter, new look trains, and will soon include enhanced accessibility features and improved on-board information.

“Since we took over this franchise we have added over 12,500 extra seats at the busiest times of the day on the Great Northern route through new trains and longer services. Now we're giving people even more of what they want - better trains to travel in.”

Andy Course, Chief Operating Officer of Eversholt Rail, said: “We are all delighted to deliver the first refreshed Class 365 back to First Capital Connect and their passengers. Investing in the Class 365 fleet, and all of our rolling stock, demonstrates our long term and continued commitment to enhancing our assets.”

Francis Paonessa, President, Rolling Stock & Services, Bombardier UK said: "Bombardier is pleased to be delivering the upgraded and modernised 365 units, providing increased comfort, reliability and accessibility for passengers travelling on the Great Northern route. Our team in Ilford have done an excellent job in delivering a quality product including a significant transformation of the passengers' environment, just 9 weeks after contract signature on November 7th."

This new train will give passengers better value for money together with the current January ticket sale where off-peak tickets are discounted by 10% when bought online from firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/off-peak-tickets/january-sale/ .