MORE than one-third of all District Line trains have now been refurbished by Metronet Rail, the company which upgraded two-thirds of the London Underground.

Ealing Common Depot has returned to service train 26, the first train to leave the production line in the 1970s, earlier this month.

Over £1 million has been spent on each of the trains, which are re-entering the service at the rate of about one a fortnight.

The updated trains have new interiors, CCTV, fire retardant seats and flooring and increased accessibility measures.

The old trains are transported from Ealing Common to Bombardier Transportation in Derby, the company in charge of the refurbishments.

In a London Underground survey, published last month, commuters said the trains are more comfortable, spacious and clean.

Metronet will replace the whole District Line fleet with air-conditioned trains from 2013, also designed and built by Bombardier Transportation.