A £21 million revamp of 45 trains has been unveiled by Virgin Trains on its east coast route.
The money will be spent on refurbishing the interiors ahead of the company introducing new rolling stock from 2018.
A total of 401 carriages will be overhauled with 24,123 seats replaced along with refurbished toilets, new carpets and curtains. Leather seats will be fitted in first class.
The work will be carried out in London and Edinburgh, where it will also fit 35 new engines to its diesel fleet as part of a £16 million contract.
Further work to the exterior of the fleet takes the total investment to more than £40 million, according to the company.
This means that more than £40 million will have been committed to improving trains since Virgin started its east coast franchise in March as part of plans to spend £140 million over eight years.
David Horne, managing director of Virgin Trains on the east coast route, said: “Since Virgin started running this railway, the bar has been raised by customers who rightly demand a high quality customer experience, something which they would expect from a Virgin business, as well as getting great value for money.
“And that’s exactly what we’ve been working hard to deliver, with this multi million investment in our trains not only one of the biggest investments of its kind ever seen on the east coast route, but also three years ahead of the introduction of new Super Express Trains as part of the government’s InterCity Express programme.
“We’re investing now so our customers can benefit from new seats and a great new on board environment before we get a new fleet of 65 trains from 2018.”