A NEW look Merseyrail fleet has been unveiled as part of an £8.5 million investment.

The refurbishment will see the outside of Merseyrail’s 59 three-car train set – which was last refurbished in 2003 at a cost of £32m – updated with designs to reflect what the Liverpool City Region has to offer in terms of sights, shopping and sport.

The first two re-liveried trains are now ready and will go into service on Monday, with the roll out expected to be completed by spring 2015.

The train “wraps” – which show how workers, students and leisure passengers can make the most of their journey - are being added to the exterior of the almost 40-year-old fleet to add a fresher, brighter image and to prevent corrosion.

Internal enhancements are still being discussed, with areas including seats, doors, panels, fixtures and signage, expected to be updated in the coming months.

Angel Trains, the rolling stock company which owns the fleet, is contributing £5.5m to the project as part of their lease agreement with Merseytravel, and a further £3m is being provided by Merseyrail.

Councillor John Salter, Merseytravel’s lead member for rail, said: “ Merseyrail is officially the best performing rail network in the country.

“A punctual service combined with a fresh look and feel to our trains and stations is about keeping standards high for regular passengers.

“Thousands of visitors will be descending on the Liverpool City Region this summer and a good experience of the rail network will contribute to the positive lasting impression they will take away.”

Maarten Spaargaren, managing director at Merseyrail, added: “We know that customers appreciate our services for reliability, value for money and the overall journey experience, and we’re sure that the new-look fleet, with its modern, fresh and dynamic designs, will further enhance people’s perception of Merseyrail.”