BBC News | ENGLAND | Navy dockyard rewires trains

First Great Western trains are to be upgraded - at a Royal Navy dockyard.

The rail company, which serves South Wales and South West England, is spending �17.8m to bring forward improvements on its locomotives.

Part of the work will be carried out by DML, the private company that is about to begin refitting Trident submarines at Plymouth's Devonport Royal Dockyard.

A fully rewired engine will leave the dockyard every 10 days under DML's �4.4m share of the contract.

Trains will be rewired at Devonport dockyard

First Great Western said the upgrade work will improve the safety and reliability of its 36 high-speed trains.

Its announcement follows delays introducing an �80m fleet of new passenger trains, blamed on technical difficulties.

Each high speed train will be fitted with the ATP system, which gives early warning of hazards.

Air-conditioning and toilets will be improved, and pollution from the engines will be reduced.

The work should help the company improve its performance after damning criticisms by rail watchdogs.

Its service is currently under investigation by the Rail Passenger Committee for South West England.

DML is due to begin work on its first Trident-carrying submarine, HMS Vanguard, next month.


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