UK’s Project Aurora: Rail Upgrade Success & Passenger Experience

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Introduction

The final train upgrade under Project Aurora has rolled out of Southern’s Selhurst depot in South London, completing a £100 million project to upgrade 304 ‘Electrostar’ trains across the Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, and Southeastern networks. The five-year program, funded by rolling stock company Porterbrook, has modernized 1,222 carriages with new features.

Project Overview

Project Aurora, the largest of its kind in the UK, has upgraded 304 ‘Electrostar’ trains across the Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern and Southeastern networks. The project, delivered on time and within budget, has upgraded 1,222 carriages with modern features including plug and USB sockets at every seat, new passenger information screens, LED lighting, improved Wi-Fi, and a digital “backbone” to enhance reliability and maintenance efficiency.

Key Improvements and Features

The upgraded trains now feature new energy-efficient lighting, forward-facing CCTV for incident monitoring, and smart onboard systems that improve reliability. The digital upgrades enable engineers to diagnose potential faults before trains arrive for maintenance, reducing downtime and improving overall service resilience. The installation of track debris CCTV and passenger counting technology also allows operators to improve timetables and safety monitoring.

Project Scope and Implementation

At the height of the project, engineers completed two full train upgrades per week. In total, the programme required 280 kilometres of wiring, 39,000 LED light tubes, 36,000 power sockets with USB ports, and 2.8 million fixings and fastenings. The project was delivered by Southern engineers in-house.

Industry Collaboration and Recognition

Alstom supported the project by providing design expertise, technical specifications, and materials. Project Aurora received national recognition at the 2023 National Rail Awards, winning Fleet Achievement of the Year.

Conclusion

The completion of Project Aurora marks a major step forward in improving reliability, sustainability, and passenger experience for commuters and travellers in the south east.

Company Summary

Porterbrook: A rolling stock company that funded the Project Aurora upgrade.

Southern: The operator of the Selhurst depot, where the final train upgrade under Project Aurora was completed. Southern engineers delivered the project in-house.

Gatwick Express: One of the networks where the upgraded ‘Electrostar’ trains operate.

Great Northern: One of the networks where the upgraded ‘Electrostar’ trains operate.

Southeastern: One of the networks where the upgraded ‘Electrostar’ trains operate.

Alstom: Supported the project by providing design expertise, technical specifications, and materials.

Technology

CCTV: The upgraded trains now feature forward-facing CCTV for incident monitoring. The installation of track debris CCTV allows operators to improve timetables and safety monitoring.

LED: The upgraded trains feature LED lighting.

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