PENDOLINO REPAINTS AND VOYAGER REFURBISHMENTS
Published at 23:24 on Saturday 25th July 2020
Tags: Alstom, Pendolino, Voyager, Class 390, Class 221, Avanti West Coast, Bombarder, Refurbishment, Ilford Works.
One of the recent Class 390 units to be reliveried, No. 390045 passes through Atherstone forming the 12:40 Euston - Manchester service on 20th June 2020. John Whitehouse
The Bombardier-built Class 221 'Super Voyager' fleet, operated by Avanti West Coast is to benefit from an an internal refurbishment, with the first set due to be completed later this month.
The 20 strong fleet, which operate over the non-electrified sections of the West Coast Main Line, in addition to running from London to Scotland, via the West Midlands, are being overhauled following an £8.3 million deal signed with Bombardier last year. New Standard Class seat covers as well as saloon and vestibule carpets will be included in the overhaul along with a revamped toilet area, while all lighting will be replaced with LEDs. The interior bodyside and ceiling panels in Standard Class saloons, vestibules and toilets will also be repainted.
It was announced last year that the West Coast Main Line will take delivery of 23 new Hitachi Rail Classes 805 and 807 trains in 2022 to replace the Voyagers, and provide additional vehicles for operating services to Liverpool.
Avanti West Coast Executive Director, Projects, Andy Barnes, explained: “We know that ultimately our Voyagers will be retired from the West Coast Main Line. But with two years on the rails, we wanted to improve them and not leave them as they are. All these improvements should enhance the customer experience and, as you will see from the images, will leave them looking very smart."
All 20 sets are to be completed by December this year, the work being undertaken by Bombardier at its works in Ilford, East London.
The Voyagers are not the only fleet on the WCML being improved. Avanti has commenced outshopping its Class 390 Pendolinos in the new livery. So far, in order of completion, set Nos. 390130, 390134, 390045, 390104, 390117, 390047, 390121, 390008, 390152, 390128, 390043, 390049, 390044 and 390123 have been returned to traffic in the new livery, in addition to Nos. 390155 and 390156 that were fully 'wrapped' for the franchise launch last year
