HASLEMERE commuters are on track to travel in greater comfort from December 2018, as part of South Western Railway’s £1.2billion investment plans.

Kiepe Electric UK has been contracted to to refurbish 18 incoming Class 442 trains in an enhancement programme that includes refurbished interiors with quality carpets, “at seat” power for mobile devices and real-time information displays.

Additional benefits for first-class customers include new leather seats and new tables incorporating inductive charging.

Neil Drury, SWR engineering director said: “We are delighted to have appointed Kiepe Electric to carry out the refurbishment and retraction of our incoming fleet of Class 442 trains. They have an excellent track record in this field and we know they will produce a high quality product for our customers which will include refurbished interiors, new information systems and improved performance.”

The Class 442 trains will operate on fast journeys on the London to Portsmouth route via Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield from December 2018, with standard class passengers benefiting from more spacious two-plus-two seating which commuter groups pressed previous franchise owners SWT to restore to the route after they were controversially withdrawn in 2007.

Work will be undertaken at Eastleigh with investment being made in facilities in the region with Axminster Carpets tendered as one of the suppliers.

The Class 442 fleet – which set a record as the fastest electric trains using a third rail at 108mph in 1988 – will be maintained and overhauled at the Bournemouth depot, safeguarding jobs and providing further investment in facilities, SWR said.

The trains were first introduced in 1988 on the Weymouth to Waterloo line.