Alstom has been contracted by Angel Trains to repaint a fleet of 56 Class 390 Pendolino, which are operated by Virgin Trains on the UK's West Coast Main Line.
The €28m contract has been signed as the Pendolino fleet has now passed the halfway point in its life cycle. Repainting work is expected to be completed by December 2019, with each train taking two weeks.
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Work will be carried out at Alstom’s new technology centre in Widnes, which is currently under development for opening in May next year.
Alstom's UK & Ireland regional and intercity managing director Rob Whyte said: “Re-painting the iconic Pendolino fleet is a significant win for us. Not only does it cement our longstanding relationship with Virgin Trains, but it will also be the very first piece of work that will take place at our new site in Widnes once it is complete.
“We are excited to be expanding our presence in the region through our site at Widnes, which we hope will become a modern, efficient rail hub for the whole of our UK operations.”
Nearly 80 people will be employed at Widnes for the duration of the project and they will be trained at Alstom’s North West Transport Training Academy, which will be built at the site.
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By GlobalDataExpected to open next year, the academy will provide training in engineering, manufacturing, project management, and other vital transport sector skills.
Alstom maintains the entire Pendolino fleet at its specialist Traincare Centres in Wembley, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow under a train service agreement funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT).
Image: The repainting work on the trainsets is expected to be completed by December 2019. Photo: ©Alstom.
