Class 153 bought by aggregates firm to be repurposed as a reception unit

Ashville Aggregates has acquired a Class 153 single-car diesel multiple unit from Porterbrook that it wants to convert into a waiting room at its railhead at West Drayton (west London).

The unit, former London Midland 153334, is currently at Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre, near Stratford-upon-Avon.

Owner Daniel Ashville-Louisy said the ‘153’ had been acquired for conversion to a reception ‘building’ at its main headquarters, allowing visitors and customers to sit in a relaxed atmosphere while waiting for their appointments.

The unit will be rewired and fitted with LED internal lights. The toilet will be made larger, and some of the seats are to be removed and new linoleum or tiled floor added.

The seating arrangement is not yet finalised, but there are a number of options - including hanging ‘egg’ chairs. Some of the original seats will be retained.

Ashville-Louisy said the cab will be retained “as a monument to its rail use” with “limitless possibilities” for the interior fitting-out of the unit, although it will be “spacious and high end”.

There will be interactive touch screens and TVs. The unit will be painted in the same all-over black livery as seen on the company’s road haulage fleet.