Alstom has delivered the UK’s largest-ever fleet upgrade, completing a 117 million GBP refurbishment programme for Avanti West Coast’s Class 390 Pendolino trains.
The final refurbished train departed from Alstom’s Transport Technology Centre in Widnes on 24 June, concluding the delivery of 574 refurbished carriages. Throughout the project, the refurbished trains were completed at a rate of one train every two weeks.
“Alstom’s successful completion of the UK’s biggest ever fleet upgrade demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the journey experience for fare-paying passengers while, at the same time, supporting the growth of sustainable rail travel in the UK.”
The Pendolino trains, which have served routes between London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh for nearly 20 years, have been upgraded to an ‘as new’ condition.
The overhaul provides numerous customer benefits, including:
- 25,000 new, ergonomic Standard Class seats
- Conversion of one First Class carriage on each of the 35 11-carriage Pendolinos, adding over 2,000 extra Standard Class seats
- Introduction of a new onboard shop
- Improved lighting
- Refurbished First Class and Standard Premium seats
- Enhanced passenger information screens
- Additional luggage space in Standard Class
- Power points at every seat
- Refurbished toilets
- New carpets made from sustainable British wool
“The Pendolino is an iconic train, and now even better than before, offering customers a much-improved travel experience, with innovation and sustainability at its heart.”
This project supported around 100 roles at Alstom’s Widnes facility, the UK’s largest and most sophisticated train modernisation centre, which opened in 2017. The centre’s capabilities and digital advancements facilitated extensive work on the intercity trains.
