Axminster Carpets
Axminster Carpets Delivers Sustainable Floor Coverings for Refurbished Pendolino Fleet
- Sustainable woollen carpeting integral to the interior transformation of the Avanti West Coast’s iconic Pendolino
- Investment in Devon-based SME helps secure skilled jobs and boost to local economy
- Bespoke design helps deliver improved travel experience for wheelchair users
As work on the largest ever rail passenger fleet upgrade approaches the halfway mark, Avanti West Coast has highlighted the importance of sustainability in the choice of the new Pendolino interior as part of its £117m refurbishment.
World-renowned manufacturer, Axminster Carpets has been enlisted by the intercity operator to help transform the iconic tilting train’s appearance. In a two-year contract, worth over £1.5m, it has helped the Devon-based company secure jobs and preserve vital weaving skill sets amongst the 40 strong workforce.
Renewable and biodegradable, woollen carpets naturally absorb humidity and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to improve air quality. As an insulator, wool also absorbs sound, helping to reduce noise. It also retains heat and releases it slowly – helping to regulate on-board temperature and reduce heating costs.
With upwards of a 10-year life span, Axminster’s policy of sourcing UK materials also helps to greatly reduce the environmental impact when compared to other synthetic surfaces.
With over 5.6 million tufts of yarn in one carriage, each overseen by eye as part of the quality control, the entire fleet of 56 trains requires over 20,000 square metres of carpet – using the wool of more than 30,000 sheep. This is enough to cover 86 football pitches. Or laid end to end, over five and a half miles of carpet, the equivalent of 94 Big Bens.
In addition, the carpets in three carriages of each train have a bespoke design to help better identify the designated areas for passengers with restricted mobility (PRM).
Axminster Carpets provided the floor coverings for Pendolino fleet when new. Twenty years on the carpets have stood the test of time. You can find out more from Barry and the team here.
