A RAIL company is planning a £4million package of improvements, including better cleaning and lighting on its trains between Southend and London.

Abellio Greater Anglia has committed the cash to “refresh”

its much-criticised Class 321 trains, used on the Southend to Liverpool Street route, including new seat covers, better lighting and an enhanced deep cleaning programme.

It comes despite the company having little more than a year remaining on its franchise.

The money would also be spent on a more frequent “heavy clean”

programme for all the operator’s trains, as well as new customer information screens at Billericay and Wickford, and refurbished waiting rooms at stations between Southend and Shenfield.

The improvements will be seen over the next four months, with a total of £35.5million being spent over the course of the short franchise, which runs until October 2016, and an additional £15.5million of upgrades added to the £20million programme announced when the company agreed the current contract with the Department for Transport in April 2014.

Managing director Jamie Burles said: “We are pleased to confirm a further programme of customer-focused improvements with investment in a refresh for a significant number of the Class 321 trains, additional train reliability initiatives, more station upgrades and schemes to deliver better customer information.

“Despite a short franchise we have continued to invest above and beyond the commitments we agreed with the Department for Transport, constantly seeking to provide a better service for our customers.

“We will keep on investing and working to raise service standards throughout the remainder of our current franchise as well as making the case to Ministers and the Department for Transport for investment in major upgrades in the next franchise."

Commuter, Mark Williams, 40, from Prittlewell, said: “It’s a bit late, but I guess the investment is good. The trains do need improving and cleanliness and lighting is definitely an issue.”

The Abellio Greater Anglia franchise began operating in February 2012 and the company employs almost 3,000 workers and operates 1,900 services across 167 stations, carrying twomillion passengers a week.