New trains that will eventually be used as part of Avanti West Coast's Liverpool to London services have arrived in the UK.
Pictures and video show the shells of the new trains being lifted off a ship in Southampton before they are transported to a factory in Country Durham to be assembled before entering service in 2022.
They will replace older models on some of Avanti's routes to the North West and Wales.
However, they will also be used for Avanti's planned additional services between London and Liverpool, which will take the frequency of trains up to two per hour at certain times of day.
Liam Hockings, senior project manager for new trains, said: “Our new trains are really going to make a difference and it’s very exciting.
“Together with our partners Hitachi Rail and Rock Rail West Coast, we will be looking to raise the bar for our customers on the West Coast Main Line route.”
Avanti, owned by First Group and Trenitalia, took over the West Coast Rail franchise from Virgin in 2019 and has promised to increase the frequency of services between Liverpool and London in 2022.
Twenty three new trains will be introduced to its fleet as part of the changes to services.
The company is promising 263 more train services every week by 2022 with new routes added, and an improved onboard service with enhanced free Wi-Fi, plug sockets, 25,000 brand new seats and improved catering.
