Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with regards new Aurora trains being introduced on the Midland Mainline, what changes to the internal layout of standard class carriages is being proposed compared to Meridian class trains in order to achieve the advertised increased numbers of seats.

The new Class 810 ‘Aurora’ trains fit more seats by using the space in standard class more efficiently than the older Class 222 ‘Meridian’ trains.

The main changes are:

• Smarter storage: luggage stacks and overhead racks have been redesigned so they take up less floor space and keep more room for seats.
• New seat design and updated seating layout: the saloons are laid out to make better use of the same footprint, while providing over 19 per cent more legroom (floor space) for passengers.

The trains still include accessible toilets, priority seating, two wheelchair spaces and two bike spaces, and now have power at every seat and improved Wi‑Fi.