The first of Chiltern’s refurbished class 168s has been released from the Wabtec works in Loughborough.
The 19-strong fleet will carry a new Mainline livery and are having new saloon carpets, new seat covers, new table tops, a heavy clean, new internal signage and labelling throughout – a process that will see each unit spend around 15 workings days at Loughborough.
Over the programme all cab and saloon doors are being fully overhauled.
Although the class 168/2s are the first to enter works they will not receive the door overhaul until 2016 when they reach their mid-life point
Next in works will be the class 168/0s, with the whole fleet scheduled for refurbishment by November 2014.
Report by Jonathan Webb
