The Stansted Express route will benefit from brand-new trains under the latest rail franchise which begins next week.

Abellio UK has signed deals with Swiss train manufacturer Stadler for the rolling stock.

Contracts worth more than £600million have been signed for 58 trains to run on the Stansted Express route, between the airport and London Liverpool Street.

The 378 carriages, which can run under electric or diesel power, will include air conditioning, two by two seating, with WiFi and power points throughout.

They also have a low floor design, allowing easier access to the platform from the train and passenger information systems with real-time information.

As well as the airport route, these new trains will also serve the intercity London to Norwich service and “key regional services”.

The new East Anglia rail franchise begins on Sunday, October 16.

New trains are also being lined up for suburban routes on the franchise.

Abellio UK has also agreed a deal with Bombardier to provide 665 new carriages, mainly for suburban routes into London – including, it is understood, the West Anglia route serving stations including Elsenham, Audley End and Great Chesterford.

Dominic Booth, managing director of Abellio UK, said: “Our ambitious plans for the new franchise are centred on the largest-ever privately-funded train procurement in the UK to give the people of East Anglia high quality trains as part of a transformation of the region’s railway.

“They will be the centrepiece of many other improvements including more frequent services, faster journeys and more capacity with 55 per cent more seats into London in the morning peak.”