Alstom has completed the largest Pendolino train modernization program in the UK for Avanti West Coast

Alstom has completed the largest Pendolino train modernization program in the UK for Avanti West Coast, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The £117 million program upgraded 56 Class 390 trains, including 35 eleven-car and 21 nine-car sets, totaling 574 carriages.

Field Tests of the ERTMS Trackbot Rail Assembly Robot

Starting with the return of the first train to service in April 2022, the modernization concluded on June 24, 2024.

Key upgrades included converting first-class carriages to standard class, increasing seating capacity by over 2,000, updating passenger seats and lighting systems, and improving conditions in standard and premium standard class cabins.

Additionally, luggage space was enhanced, power sockets were installed at every seat, toilets were upgraded, and new flooring was laid.

Alstom’s technical center in Widnes, operational since summer 2017, played a pivotal role, creating approximately 100 new jobs.

The project was financed by leasing company Angel Trains, with 80% of the investment spent on orders from British suppliers.

This modernization not only enhanced passenger comfort but also highlighted the importance of investing in the UK’s rail infrastructure, marking it as the country’s largest program of its kind.

Photo: Alstom

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