Final Pendolino completes its refurb as UK's biggest fleet upgrade finishes

Avanti West Coast's iconic Pendolino fleet is back on track, following its record-breaking £117 million refurbishment project. The last completed train rolled out of Alstom's Widnes facility on Monday, marking the successful conclusion of the UK's biggest ever fleet upgrade.

This extensive overhaul, completed in just over two years, saw all 56 Pendolino trains receive a complete makeover. Upgrades included 25,000 new seats of which 2,000 have been converted into standard-class seating, power-points in every seat and installation of an onboard shop in each Pendolino. This was on top of upgrades to information screens and refurbished upholstery.

"The refurbished Pendolinos, alongside our new Evero fleet, are a key part of our mission to transform rail travel for customers on the West Coast route," said Andy Mellors, managing director at Avanti West Coast. "This investment offers a much-improved travel experience with innovation and sustainability at its heart."

Peter Broadley, Alstom's services managing director UK, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the project's contribution to a greener future for rail travel.

The £117 million investment, financed by Angel Trains, also provided a significant boost to the UK economy with UK suppliers benefitting from 80% of Angel Trains investment.

Malcolm Brown, CEO of Angel Trains, said: "A huge thank you to both Alstom and Avanti West Coast for making the UK's biggest ever fleet upgrade possible. It's significantly transformed our iconic trains, and I'm positive that passengers will enjoy the comfort and connectivity when they travel on one of our refurbished Pendolinos.

“This is exactly what the partnership between our businesses set out to achieve together, and I'm certain that it will encourage people to make a positive decision to travel by train on the West Coast Main Line.”

Brown also confirmed that Angel Trains is sponsoring two apprentices to join Alstom’s Widnes facility later this year.

"This project demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience while supporting sustainable rail travel in the UK," said Broadley. "UK suppliers benefitted from 80% of the investment, showcasing the positive impact this project has had on our economy."