Porterbrook has signed a contract with Bombardier Transportation to fit digital signalling equipment and complete specialist on-board conversions to Class 387 trains that are intended to serve the Heathrow Express rail link.

The 12 specially converted trains will form a dedicated Heathrow Express fleet, as part of a management contract (announced in March 2018) that sees Great Western Railway deliver some of the operational aspects of the airport service.

Porterbrook’s (www.porterbrook.co.uk) £11 million investment in the Class 387 Electrostar trains sees proven Digital Railway in-cab ETCS signalling installed, as well as on-board conversions that include improved seating, additional luggage space, at-seat power, on-board TV and fast Wi-Fi.

Engineering and design work will take place at Bombardier’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby, with fitment taking place at the company’s Ilford depot.

The work will be completed by December 2019, meeting the Secretary of State’s commitment to replace the existing rolling stock on the route with highly reliable and digitally enabled Electrostar trains, as well as extend the track access agreement to confirm that the Heathrow Express service will run until at least 2028.

The fitment of ETCS to the Class 387 trains will be the first time that digital signalling has been installed on an existing fleet of electric passenger trains.

Richard Hunter at Bombardier Transportation (www.uk.bombardier.com) said: “This first-in-fleet fitment will enable us to accelerate ETCS fitment on other Electrostar fleets, as and when our customers require it.

"As a global signalling solutions provider, we are delighted to be working with Porterbrook, Heathrow Express and Great Western Railway on this project, which is an exciting next step in the delivery of the Digital Railway.”