Avanti’s first refurbished Pendolino returns to service
THE FIRST Avanti West Coast Class 390/1 Pendolino to pass through Alstom’s Widnes facility for major refurbishment has returned to service with the operator.
The completion of the 11-coach 390125 marks an important milestone for the £117 million project, which began in July last year when the train was admitted to Alstom’s Widnes facility (Railways Illustrated, October 2021).
The refurbished 390125 returned to service on April 25, working the 05.05 AWC Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston service before also visiting Liverpool Lime Street later in the day. The refurbished trains will initially be allocated onto diagrams based off Longsight depot, where they are being recommissioned after being released from refurbishment by Alstom.
The project, financed by Angel Trains, will see the entire 56-strong AWC Class 390 fleet admitted to Widnes for a refurbishment aimed at making the interiors of the trains – many of which are now 20 years old – feel like a brand new fleet. It is anticipated that the refurbishment project will take about another two years to complete, with the last refurbished train expected to emerge during 2024. A total of 80% of the £117 million investment will benefit British suppliers.
It is intended that the 35 11-coach Class 390/1 fleet will be refurbished first, to then be followed by the ninecoach Class 390/0s.
The refurbishment of the 11-coach sets has seen capacity increased to provide more seating on each set. Additional luggage space has been provided throughout the Standard Class accommodation, with the loss of seating space created by this compensated for through the conversion of the previously First Class coach G into a Standard Class carriage.
Throughout the train there are now 508 Standard Class seats, using the same design as seats fitted in the Lumo Class 803 fleet, which have proved popular with passengers using the open access operator’s trains (Railways Illustrated issue 232). Due to their ergonomic design, the revised Standard Class layout allows for slightly more legroom compared to the unrefurbished trains.
The remaining 99 seats are split between First Class and Standard Premium accommodation. AWC introduced Standard Premium ticketing to passengers seeking additional legroom and guaranteed table seating in a move that has previously proved popular in the airline industry. The on-board shop has also had a significant makeover, while use of modern technology – such as seat occupancy cameras and information screens, wireless mobile phone charging points, and power points provided at every seat – has made the trains more suitable for the modernday traveller.
Two further 11-coach Class 390/1s – 390123 and 390148 – have also