A
two-year


mid-life
refurbishment
of
the
56
Alstom
Pendolinos
operated
by
Avanti
West
Coast
has
been
completed,
just
two
months
since
the
22nd
anniversary
of
the
day
in
April
2002
when
a
Pendolino
went
on
display
at
London
Euston
for
the
first
time.

The
first
Pendolino
passengers
were
carried
on
23
July
that
year,
when
a
special
Virgin
Trains
service
took
invited
guests
from
Birmingham
International
to
Manchester
Piccadilly.

The
completion
of
the
£117
million
refurbishment,
financed
by
Angel
Trains,
has
been
celebrated
with
an
event
at
Alstom’s
depot
in
Widnes.

A
total
of
574
vehicles
have
been
improved
and
the
last
Pendolino
set
to
be
completed
went
into
service
yesterday,
when
it
worked
the
08.43
from
Liverpool
Lime
Street
to
London
Euston.

The
upgrade,
at
an
average
cost
of
£2
million
a
train,
has
included
the
fitting
of
25,000
new,
ergonomic
Standard
Class
seats,
the
conversion
of
one
First
Class
coach
in
each
of
the
35
eleven-car
Pendolinos
to
provide
more
than
2,000
extra
Standard
Class
seats,
a
new
on
board
shop,
improved
lighting,
refurbished
First
Class
and
Standard
Premium
seats,
new
information
screens,
more
luggage
space
in
Standard
Class,
power
points
at
all
seats,
refurbished
toilets
and
new
carpets
throughout,
made
of
British
wool.

Avanti
West
Coast
managing
director
Andy
Mellors
said:
‘The
refurbished
Pendolinos,
together
with
our
new
Evero
fleet,
are
a
key
part
of
our
mission
to
transform
rail
travel
for
our
customers
on
the
west
coast
route.

‘The
Pendolino
is
an
iconic
train,
and
now
even
better
than
before,
with
innovation
and
sustainability
at
its
heart.’

Alstom’s
services
managing
director
UK,
Peter
Broadley,
added:
‘This
milestone
highlights
the
dedication
and
expertise
of
our
team
at
Widnes.
They
have
worked
tirelessly
in
partnership
with
colleagues
at
Avanti
West
Coast,
Angel
Trains
and
our
wider
UK
supply
chain
to
elevate
the
interior
refurbishment
of
rolling
stock
to
another
level.
We
are
immensely
proud
to
see
the
entire
Alstom-built
Pendolino
fleet
returning
to
service
in
peak
condition.’

Angel
Trains
CEO
Malcolm
Brown
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.’