Virgin Trains' first repainted Pendolino back in traffic

By Richard Clinnick
|
18 September 2017
News

The first repainted Virgin Trains Pendolino has entered traffic following its release from Alstom’s Widnes facility.

Nine-car 390010 is the first train to be treated at the facility, which opened in June (RAIL 831). All 57 Class 390s are to be treated at the site - they are being repainted in VT’s ‘flowing silk’ livery as applied to the Virgin Trains East Coast Azuma fleet that enters traffic next year.

Nick Crossfield, Managing Director, Alstom UK & Ireland, said: “This is the first work we have completed at our important new Widnes modernisation facility. Not only is it on time and on budget, I am equally proud of the fact we employed 80 people locally, including five new apprentices, to deliver this beautiful new paint job.”

The repaint was planned by Angel Trains, which owns the trains. However, the Department for Transport specified that the livery needed to be neutral ahead of the West Coast Partnership franchise bidding. VT then added its own branding.

More articles on:

Author: Richard Clinnick

Head of News (Print and Digital)

[email protected]

Our Head of News, Richard joined RAIL in 2005 from local press, where he had been working since 2002. He covers all aspects of news for the magazine and website, specialising in operations and rolling stock.

Comments (5)

Login to comment

Comments

AndrewJGwilt1989 - 18/09/2017 09:25

The new livery looks very nice.
- 1
- 5
Nigel Cleary - 18/09/2017 22:12

Wow!!!Not!!! ...really looking more bland and mundane...why not all silver or jet black with silver?Green or British flag colours as we mean too go on with the brexit...
- 2
- 1
Michael Corrigan - 19/09/2017 09:05

It looks absolutely fantastic these repainted Virgin Trains and I catch lots of trains from Durham where I live. I can't wait to travel in the new Azuma Train next year that's in operation already in Japan.
- 1
- 0
FrankH - 15/12/2017 15:22

They look better, a lot better. Pity Virgin put so big a vinyl wrap on the front, something smaller with a little flair/panache eye catching even would have done.
- 0
- 0
Dave - 15/01/2018 13:21

Black around the windows would have made the all white carriage bodies more appealing, similar to how the new Azumas will look no matter what the DfT specified, they don't own the trains
- 0
- 0
- John - 07/03/2018 22:52
  
  I agree with Dave, black around the windows would have been a vast improvement. The all white coaches look rather bland, but nice to have a long overdue livery change all the same. Controversionally, the dark, glossy green GWR livery is still my favourite!
  0
  
  0
  - Dave - 08/03/2018 20:47
    
    I agree with you John - I'm wondering when they are going to get around to revamping the interiors - they are well past their best before date. Shame on both Virgin as the operator and Angel Trains the owner of the Pendolinos
    
    0
    
    1
    - John - 09/03/2018 18:00
      
      Just been on Pendolino to London from Manchester and didn’t see one train in the new livery! Lots of new Class 800’s from Paddington. Lovely.
      
      0
      
      0
      - Dave - 12/03/2018 16:44
        
        The class 800s of GWR are something to talk about for sure - I always loved the Pendolinos but now im drawn to the class 800s of GWR . I did have 4 new livery Pendos - arrive or depart Birmingham New Street last Saturday and i still think they look awful being all white
        
        0
        
        0