Modern air-conditioned trains to breeze on to Fen Line and Great Northern services to be doubled at Ely

Modern air-conditioned trains due to be fitted with Wi-Fi are set to breeze onto Great Northern's King's Lynn-Cambridge Fen Line route when the train operator, part of Govia Thameslink Railway, launches its new timetable on 21 May, it was announced today.

Great Northern Passenger Services Director Stuart Cheshire said:

“As we head into summer, these modern air conditioned trains will keep passengers as cool as a cucumber. We think passengers will love the Wi-Fi that we’ll be adding in the coming months and the on-board information systems and power points at every pair of seats. Plus, with their accessible toilets and designated areas for wheelchair users, the trains will be great for people with restricted mobility.

“Furthermore, Network Rail is working towards upgrading power supplies and lengthening platforms by the end of next year, at Littleport and Waterbeach, which would let us double the length of these trains to eight carriages to increase capacity for passengers.”

The arrival of the new carriages, which replace trains 22 years old, is part of an overall plan to replace three-quarters of the Great Northern fleet by 2020 – and those that remain are themselves going through a £30m refurbishment programme.

Stuart added:

“In just a few short years, we’ll be moving from one of the oldest fleets in the country to one of the newest.”

More trains at Ely to ease crowding as Cambridge North opens

The arrival of the new trains, on 21 May, coincides with the opening of a new station built by Network Rail and managed by Greater Anglia at Cambridge North, to serve the renowned Cambridge Business Park.

Great Northern will have two trains an hour in each direction to the new station from King’s Cross via Cambridge. One of these trains will continue on to Ely, giving Ely a half hourly Great Northern service in each direction all day, which adds over 3,300 more seats across the day (40% more) by doubling the frequency in the off-peak and plugging service gaps at this station in the peak.

Stuart said:

“Crucially, although most of the four-carriage King’s Lynn trains cannot stop at Cambridge North until platforms are lengthened at Littleport and Waterbeach, these one dozen extra King’s Cross trains at Ely should ease crowding on the King's Lynn services which will be a real boon for our passengers.”

The trains at Cambridge North will be a mixture of the modern air-conditioned Class 387 trains, which have been running to and from Cambridge since last autumn, and the existing Class 365 trains, which are going through a £30m refurbishment programme.