First refurbished Class 170 DMU of EMR into service

On 15 April 2025, East Midlands Railway (EMR) has unveiled its first fully refurbished Class 170 train at Derby station, marking the beginning of a transformative year for the company and a significant upgrade in comfort and convenience for regional customers.

The revamped train is the first in a 23 million GBP programme to modernise EMR’s Class 170 regional fleet, enhancing the customer experience with brand-new seats and tables, modern power and charging facilities (including 230 V, Type-C and dual USB sockets), refurbished toilets, upgraded flooring, and a newly installed passenger information system. It also includes a dedicated bike storage area and redesigned interiors that echo the sleek aesthetic of EMR’s new Aurora trains, which are set to enter service later this year.

The refurbished Class 170 Turbostars are owned by the UK’s leading rolling stock financier and asset management company Porterbrook and were previously operated by West Midlands Railway. This comprehensive overhaul ensures a more comfortable, reliable, and connected journey for customers across the region. The train is the first of the 44-strong Class 170 fleet to be refurbished. The next train in the programme is scheduled to enter service next month. Following that, a newly refurbished unit is expected to join the fleet each month.

EMR’s Class 170 fleet operates regional services across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, including: Matlock to Derby and Nottingham; Nottingham to Worksop via Mansfield; Newark Castle to Crewe via Nottingham, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent; Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln; Nottingham to Skegness via Grantham; Cleethorpes to Leicester via Lincoln and Nottingham; and Cleethorpes to Barton-on-Humber. It is also frequently used on the Liverpool to Norwich route.

The interiors were designed by Derby-based DG Design, while the project was supported by a network of regional suppliers – showcasing EMR’s commitment to investing in the communities it serves. Indeed, many of the suppliers involved were based in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and Crewe – reinforcing the importance of local industry and collaboration.

The upgrade of the Class 170 fleet is part of a wider 60 million GBP programme, which will also include the refurbishment of EMR’s Class 360 and Class 158 trains.