AVANTI West Coast has begun a £117m upgrade of its 56 Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ units, which it says will return them to ‘as new’ condition and create over 2000 extra standard class seats across the fleet.
Following what is described by the operator as the UK’s biggest ever train fleet upgrade, the upgraded trains will feature a cafe bar, improved lighting, new carpets and information screens, refurbished toilets, additional luggage space and power points at every seat.
First unit
The first to be refurbished will be 11-car No. 390125, which arrived at Alstom’s Widnes rolling stock modernisation centre on July 18 and is expected to re-enter service towards the end of the year.