Alstom to modernize Virgin's Pendolino fleet

Alstom was awarded a contract worth more than $16 million by Virgin to modernize its entire Pendolino fleet of 56 trains.

The contract includes the refurbishment of the interiors, bar, kitchen facilities and toilets. The work is being undertaken at two Alstom Traincare Centres in the U.K. and will be performed over a period of eight months.

The trains to be modernized have been running from London to Birmingham or to Glasgow for more than 10 years. The modernization will enhance the comfort of around 20 million passengers traveling each year on these two lines.

The interiors will be improved by the replacement of spotlights with LED lighting that will also help improve energy efficiency and the improvement of other saloon lighting, including a change to blue luggage rack lighting.

The overhaul also includes the application of new vinyl wraps, new decals, new litter bins and a completely new toilet bowl. The toilets will be refreshed, with the toilets for people with reduced mobility also having a new messaging system that tells users when the door is locked. Vestibule venting will be improved and existing carpeting will be replaced.

All catering equipment, including chillers, is being replaced, alongside strategic modifications to the kitchen layout to facilitate cleaning. The kitchen design, which was developed by the Alstom team with Virgin, is intended to offer improved service to passengers, while making it easier to clean and to recycle waste.

The works will be performed without impact on train availability following the recent completion of the third heavy engineering overhaul of the entire U.K. Pendolino fleet.