Greater Anglia's programme to replace their entire fleet is complete. This is just another milestone in an unprecedented period of investment in the UK's trains. It's easy to forget the impact this investment is having on the passenger experience, given the challenges of COVID-19 on all aspects of UK rail, including train manufacturing.
The latest statistics by ORR show that the average age of rolling stock has fallen from a high point of 21 years in 2015/16 to 17 years in 2020/21. We now have the youngest train fleet in over a decade. The much-maligned 'Pacers' are gone; most trains are now air-conditioned; and 'slam door' trains are limited to a small number of non-standard operations.
All of this means the on-board experience for passengers has markedly improved. Modern vehicles have higher capacity, are designed to be accessible and have better onboard information and connectivity. Seat comfort and space for bikes and luggage will continue to be topics for debate and improvement, but this now comes from a strong foundation.
At a time when encouraging passengers back to rail post-Covid is still an essential priority to recover financial sustainability, and with headwinds including staff availability and industrial relations, the positive contribution of modern trains offering passengers an excellent journey experience feels like a boost the railway really needs right now.
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