National Express train operator c2c’s new summer timetable commences on Sunday 22 May and will feature almost 6,000 additional seats each weekday for customers, following the completion of the company’s train refurbishment programme.
The upgrade for c2c’s fleet of Class 357 trains has seen all 74 four-carriage trains refreshed in a new white livery with dark blue doors as part of the scheduled maintenance programme.
The completion of this work enables c2c to reintroduce two extra four-carriage trains providing 21 more services each weekday with eight-carriages, instead of four while the refurbishment work was undertaken.
In response to feedback received from customer forums and c2c’s Passenger Panel, 14 of the longer 21 trains in service from the start of the new timetable will operate on the route via Grays where the greatest need is.
There are some very minor other alterations to services in the c2c timetable from 22 May and customers can pick up timetables from stations or view these on the c2c website.
Julian Drury Managing Director of c2c said: “The completion of the upgrade programme for our fleet of trains is excellent news for our customers, enabling the full reintroduction of the available seating capacity on the c2c network from the May timetable change.
“I am grateful to our customers for their patience while the upgrade has taken place and in listening to their feedback, we are pleased to be able to provide extra carriages on services with the greatest need.”
Martin Smith, the new Chairman of c2c’s Passenger Panel said:
“Customers on c2c will be pleased to hear that the full fleet of refurbished trains is now available for service, and that some of the specific capacity issues on the Grays services are being addressed in the new timetable. The Passenger Panel would welcome feedback from customers, and we look forward to working with c2c on further improvements to the service in the future.”
