Thameslink has started a £3.6m refresh of its 115 trains, with exterior polishing, repainting work on toilets and deep cleaning under way across the fleet. The programme is aimed at passengers using the network between Cambridge and Brighton, and the polishing work is expected to finish by the end of the year.
John Whitehurst, Greater Thameslink Railway interim chief executive, said: “Boosting customer satisfaction is a priority for us, so we’re delighted to bring tangible improvements to our Thameslink train fleet which passengers will really appreciate.” He added: “By making our trains more attractive, we will encourage more people to choose rail across the vast Thameslink network, connecting communities as far apart as Cambridge and Brighton.”
Thameslink and Siemens
The work covers 46km of train exteriors across 1,140 carriages, which are being polished to a white finish. Toilets are being repainted and smart new interior wall vinyls are being applied to deter graffiti and make cleaning easier after attacks. Every area onboard is being deep steam-cleaned at the Sussex depot in Three Bridges.
The Class 700 polishing project and toilet refresh is funded by the Department for Transport and Greater Thameslink Railway and delivered in partnership with Siemens. Aglaja Schneider, joint chief executive at Siemens Mobility UKI, said: “This is what effective rail partnerships deliver – our teams are restoring 46km of train exteriors to a gleaming finish, while GTR’s teams are deep-cleaning every carriage to the highest standard.”
31 May and 18 June 2026
The refresh follows Thameslink’s move into public ownership on 31 May and sits within a passenger-driven improvement plan at GTR. The operator said the fleet work is part of wider refurbishment plans that also include 304 Southern Electrostar trains being overhauled at Selhurst Depot in South London.
John Whitehurst said the upgrades are intended to improve the passenger experience and bring more people onto the railway, while also making the trains easier to maintain. That combination is the practical test for the programme: cleaner carriages for current passengers, and a fleet presentation that GTR says should help pull more people onto the service.
Thameslink passengers will see the benefit first on the trains they use now, not after a long rebuild. The cleaning and polishing work is already under way, and the fleet’s exterior refresh is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year.
