South Western Railway (SWR) has unveiled Arterio as the name for the new £1 billion train fleet that it says is set to transform travel across South West London, Surrey and Berkshire. The naming was made by SWR’s managing director, Mark Hopwood, during a special event at the company’s Wimbledon depot.

The new 90-strong fleet will replace some of the network’s oldest trains, and will offer better reliability and performance. The first Arterio train is expected to be introduced later this year on the Reading line, with a total of 750 new carriages to be introduced over the following two years.

Mr Hopwood added: “The name Arterio reflects how important this fleet will be in carrying people in and out of the heart of the capital. Although passenger numbers may be low at the moment, people will want to travel again whether that is for work or leisure and we will be ready to play our part in helping that recovery.

“New trains that offer a transformed travelling experience will be key to that. The Arterio fleet is a massive investment for our business, and we are looking forward to our passengers joining us on this exciting journey.”

Matt Byrne, Bombardier Transportation’s president (UK and Ireland), said: “We are delighted that South Western Railway has chosen the name Arterio for the 750-carriage fleet we have designed and are now building here in Britain.

“We are working with SWR to bring the trains into service as rapidly as possible, so they can help transform the vital routes serving London’s Waterloo Station.”