COMMUTER trains serving Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations have had a £7million revamp.

More than 20 ScotRail trains have been upgraded as part of a multi-million pound investment by the fleet owner Eversholt Rail, with another 21 vehicles set to be refurbished by 2016.

Passengers travelling from and to Helensburgh, Balloch, Dalmuir, Milngavie, Airdrie, Springburn, Larkhall, Lanark, Carstairs and Coatbridge Central stations will benefit from the works, carried out by Doncaster-based Wabtec.

Twenty-two Class 320 trains have received new toilets and doors, two wheelchair bays and footstep lighting, with the final train completed on Friday.

The works were undertaken to comply with European standards to improve accessibility for those with reduced mobility which must be completed by 2020.

The 320s will be the first fleet in the UK to be completed ahead of the deadline.

Work to refurbish a further 21 Class 318 trains will begin today and is expected to take two-and-a-half years to complete.

It will include repainting the trains - both interior and exterior - and repair to the train bodywork.

More than £18m has been invested in the upgrade and refurbishment work by Eversholt Rail, which leases the trains to ScotRail.

Steve Montgomery, ScotRail's managing director, said: "We welcome the work to upgrade these trains and to enhance the overall experience for customers who use them."

Mary Kenny, Chief Executive of Eversholt Rail, said: "The Class 320 upgrade, along with the refurbishment of the Class 318 fleet, demonstrates the importance of Scotland to us and our commitment to delivering the best value and highest quality proposition to our customers and rail passengers."

Transport Minister, Keith Brown, said: "I would like to congratulate all partners involved in the successful refurbishment of the 22 Class 320 electric trains, which have already greatly improved rail passengers' experience in central Scotland.

"The work includes new fully accessible toilets on board and these trains will be well used by the many visitors and spectators travelling by rail to venues for next year's Commonwealth Games events."

ewan.fergus@ eveningtimes.co.uk