FRESH new interiors are being given to the three former Grand Central (GC) HSTs, now part of the East Midlands Trains (EMT) fleet.
The sets – with two power cars and six trailers, rather than the usual eight – were taken on by EMT to provide additional capacity as a result of enforced diagram changes that stemmed from the improvements made to Thameslink services last May.

EMT introduced the first of the former Grand Central power cars into traffic in February, but the trailer cars were not in the best of condition and had not received reliability modifications, so the decision was made to refurbish them.
In addition, EMT acquired three ex-GWR TRFB vehicles to increase First Class seating.
EMT completed the first train in September, and has fully refitted the trailer first (TF) with new beige leather seats to replace the aubergine colour inherited from GC.
Read more in the November issue of The RM – on sale now!
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