We're with the train for the entire journey.

At Angel Trains we don't just procure rolling stock, we manage it throughout its life.

That's why over the last decade, we've invested over £3 billion in our trains, reducing emissions, re-engineering components, modernising interiors, installing energy meters and championing innovations like remote diagnostics.

It's a long term view that'll help us to always offer the best value. No matter what the mileometer says.

The next stop? In about a million miles thanks to our investment in cardan shafts.

At Angel Trains we know how important it is to keep our customers' fleets moving. So, to help reduce downtime, we're investing in a range of new cardan shafts.

A key component which drives the wheels, a cardan shaft is subject to enormous stresses and has to be replaced every 500,000 miles.

The new shafts will last over one million miles, doubling their longevity and ensuring our trains make as few unscheduled stops as possible.

The laws of physics. In the right hands they can be a very powerful tool.

Lighter trains are known as Sprinters.

They're allowed to operate at faster line speeds because they cause less wear on the track.

To help a customer secure Sprinter status for our Class 172 fleet, our engineers, together with our industry partners, used not-so-simple physics.

We proved to Network Rail that while the static axle load was higher than other Sprinter classes, the dynamic axle load was not, which meant no undue track damage would be caused. And the Class 172s were free to run at top speed. QED.

Achieving a higher performance from high speed trains.

High Speed Trains or HSTs have been around since 1976, so we thought an upgrade was due.

Starting in 2003, we invested £1.5 million in trials of an engine new to the UK market, and subsequently £10 million in a fleet fitment.

The result?

Lower emissions, noise levels and improved fuel consumption. Ensuring the HST will be running smoothly (and speedily) for many years to come.

We're not just reinventing the wheel, we're resizing it.

At Angel Trains we believe in big ideas. And small ones.

That's why we've teamed up with a manufacturer to investigate the feasibility of reducing the diameter of trains wheels. Our research shows that by allowing an extra 6mm of wheel wear you can safely extend a wheel's life by 10%. An innovation that both saves money and helps cut CO2 emissions down to size too.

We're also looking at radical wheel designs which improve ride performance and track wear – innovations that should help the track access charges from Network Rail get smaller too.

Now you can measure our customer commitment down to the nearest kWh.

Moving a fully laden train at speeds of up to 90mph takes a lot of energy. Just how much, our customers will always know.

That's because we've begun installing energy meters across our fleets so that operating companies only have to pay Network Rail for the electricity they actually use.

This not only cuts bills, but the data can even help drivers run our trains more efficiently.

Giving customers more power than ever.

We believe the best way to know how a train is running is to ask it.

What tells you most about a fleet's performance? A maintenance check? A chat with the driver? A vehicle breakdown?

At Angel Trains, we're investing in what we believe is a much better source of information - remote diagnostics.

Using a sophisticated monitoring system, remote diagnostics gives you real time analysis via GSM/3G. It can highlight failed or degrading components and report on how well the vehicle is running.

So an operator can plan solutions before the train has even reached the depot.

Step aboard your new train...

Angel Trains has invested over £7million and has developed a package of comprehensive improvements to our Class 317 trains that not only gives passengers that new train quality and comfort but also delivers new train reliability, speed and energy efficiency.

Equipped with the latest traction package found on new trains, coupled with regenerative braking, the Class 317 ensures that operational costs are minimised without compromising performance.