The UK Department of Transport has successfully concluded negotiations with Angel Trains and Alstom, for the construction and delivery of 106 Pendolino Carriages for the West Coast Main Line in a deal worth £1.5bn.
Alstom will produce four new 11-car Pendolino trains and lengthen 31 existing Pendolino trains by two carriages. The contract also allows for the vehicles to be maintained until 2022.
The extra carriages will deliver a significant increase in capacity for passengers on the route, providing 7,420 extra seats on the West Coast Main Line.
The carriages are set to come into full service by December 2012 and will be used on the most popular routes at the busiest times of day.
The extra trains are part of £8.8bn upgrade works to improve rail services on the West Coast Main Line.
The project is nearing completion and will deliver faster journey times and a 45% increase in long-distance trains to and from Euston in December 2008.
The agreement also contains an option to purchase a further 42 carriages in 2010, which are to be delivered and maintained from early 2013 to meet rising passenger demand. This would involve lengthening the remaining 21 nine-car trains to 11 carriages.
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said that the West Coast Main Line is one of the busiest rail routes in Europe.
"It is vital that we carry on meeting growing demand for rail travel and give people a better, reliable and greener way to make their journeys” Kelly said.
"Passengers will see thousands of extra seats because of this deal. This is on top of the extra services and faster journeys our £8.8bn investment in the West Coast Main Line modernisation is already delivering" Kelly said.
Virgin Rail Projects Limited will support the department throughout the delivery, testing and commissioning of the new Pendolino rolling stock.
By Daniel Garrun
