Tourism in London and Kent Gets a Boost with Southeastern’s New Class 376 Electrostar Trains

Published on December 1, 2025

Southeastern, working with Eversholt Rail and Alstom, is pleased to announce the return to passenger service of the first refurbished Class 376 Electrostar unit, train no. 37602. As an improved unit of the fleet, it now runs services on the North Kent and South East London routes and enhances the experience of railway travel. This refurbishment is part of the modernisation of 36 trains, which is being carried out at the Grove Park Centre of Excellence in South East London to improve the comfort and efficiency of the passengers travelling in this region.

The refurbished Class 376 Electrostar units will make a positive difference to commuters and visitors alike in the busy North Kent and South East London corridors. With improved performance, new enhanced exterior and interior designs, the refurbished units will assist in the region in the creation of an efficient and enjoyable travel experience to help drive the area’s tourism. These trains will offer enhanced capacity and efficiency, which in turn will assist in the further growth of tourism in the impacted region.

Southeastern’s refurbished Class 376 Electrostars are expected to improve vacations for travelers heading to South East London and North Kent tourist attractions and assist everyday commuters. These refurbished trains are expected to enhance and encourage visits to various attractions such as historic sites, museums, parks, and active urban centers that are now more easily reachable. These areas are expected to enhance tourism as travel will be quicker and more comfortable to the previously mentioned tourist attractions.

The presence and diversity of attractions in North Kent and South East London show the high value of these areas to explorers and tourists wanting to interact with some of the finest history and culture, nature and urban experiences. A tourist magnet for South East London and North Kent is the popular and easily accessible destinations such as Greenwich with the famous Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park, both are attractions in

While travelers in South East London can visit attractions like the O2 Arena and Borough Market, which features several food and cultural activities, the Cutty Sark in Greenwich is also highly recommended. Southeastern runs renovated trains that make visiting these varied and interesting places a real possibility.

Improvements to the Class 376 Electrostar Trains

A substantial number of modifications have been made to the Class 376 Electrostar trains that were first introduced in the early 2000s. The most recent changes have involved cabin design and facelift renovations of the trains to improve comfort and aesthetics for travellers. Some of the changes made for the passengers include new seating arrangements, changes made to the lighting, and updated restroom facilities for an overall improved travel experience. A general exterior facelift and streamlining were made to enhance aesthetics and improve performance of the trains.

Operationally, the trains have been refurbished to make them more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable. The refurbished Class 376 Electrostar trains have improved the travel experience for patrons with more distance and local travel demands. Positively, customers experience more climate control, noise control and improved ride comfort, and overall smoother motion of the train.

People who travel on Southeastern will gain new ticketing systems, shorter boarding times, and improved trips. These changes are specifically designed to enhance customer satisfaction and make travel more pleasurable whether for work or leisure. With new fleet additions, Southeastern will become more comfortable and a better choice for a significant portion of its audience.

Effect on Tourists and Local Residents

The improved Class 376 Electrostar trains will certainly attract more passengers to the Southeastern service area. Improved services and travel are now more convenient for access to major tourist destinations in North Kent and South East London. Improved travel access allows the rail operator to enhance the service to meet tourism needs in these areas in support of local tourist businesses and attractions.

Modernised travel patterns are encouraged for the benefit of local communities. The updated trains present a better travel option than cars, thereby reducing travel congestion and pollution. While travel patterns are modernized, these points also provide improved travel for eco-tourism. With these points in mind, we are aligned to support the growing trends in eco-tourism travel.

Thanks to better transport links, visitors can spend more time in an area to visit local eateries, shops, and cultural attractions.  There is more work for lodging, dining, and shopping businesses, and this helps people in the area.  This is the case for South East London and North Kent.  This, of course, is more work for the people living in the area.  This also adds to the local economy.

Looking to the Future, the Future of Travel in Southeastern’s Service Area.

The refurbishment of the Electrostar Class 376 trains is a part of a larger plan to modernize fleets for an even more enhanced customer experience. Southeastern plans to continue this practice in the coming future, ensuring South East London and North Kent have their needs met when considering the conveniences of rail travel.

Southeastern is working to ensure that the upgrades made to services and trains, do more than build customer enjoyment. The company wants to ensure that the customer sees rail travel as a competitive travel choice, as the use of the transport services will augment travel services and grow the economy and tourism for the area. The rail transport service will become more competitive to ensure that travel services for the area economy will become beneficial.

As the world of travel begins to recover following the pandemic, the public’s ability to travel throughout the UK with dependable, safe, and comfortable options will allow for even greater opportunities to travel. Southeastern’s new line, with the recently chartered M31 Electrostar train, will aid in the ability to transport people throughout Southeastern and assist with the reduction of transport emissions while retaining the ability to travel efficiently.