Wabtec Rail Scotland Limited, the Kilmarnock based division of Wabtec Rail Limited, has been awarded a contract by First Great Western for the refurbishment of 25 Class 180 units and 15 trailer cars.
First Great Western operates trains from London Paddington to Bristol, Reading and other destinations in the South West of England.
The last unit will be completed in July 2012 and all of the works will be carried out at Wabtec Rail Scotland’s vehicle overhaul facility.
Wabtec said the main aims of the refurbishments are:
- To convert 15 out of service and stored Mk III Buffet Car carriages to Standard Class to provide longer train services on First Great Western routes.
- To convert 25 Class 180 carriages to ‘a high specification to release suburban rolling stock to enable shorter distance commuter trains to be lengthened into Paddington.’