| British Rail Class 390 Pendolino | |
|---|---|
 Avanti West Coast Class 390 passingRugeley Trent Valley | |
 The refurbished standard-class interior of a Class 390 unit | |
| In service | 23 July 2002 – present |
| Manufacturer | |
| Built at | |
| Family name | Pendolino |
| Replaced | |
| Constructed | |
| Refurbished | 2021–2024[4] |
| Number built |
|
| Number in service | 56 |
| Number scrapped | 1 |
| Predecessor | |
| Formation | (See§ Consist) |
| Fleet numbers | (See§ Fleet details) |
| Capacity |
|
| Owners | Angel Trains |
| Operators |
|
| Depots |
|
| Lines served | |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium (friction stir welded) |
| Train length |
|
| Car length |
|
| Width | 2.73 m (8 ft 11 in)[5] |
| Height | 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)[5] |
| Doors | Single-leaf sliding plug |
| Wheelbase | Bogies: 2.70 m (8 ft 10 in)[6] |
| Maximum speed | 125 mph (200 km/h) |
| Weight |
|
| Traction system | Alstom Onix 800IGBT[7] |
| Traction motors | 2 × Alstom 4 EJA 2852per motor car(425 kW (570 hp) each)[6] |
| Power output |
|
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz ACoverhead |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| UIC classification | (See§ Consist) |
| Bogies | Fiat-SIG[5] |
| Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic (disc) andrheostatic/regenerative[3] |
| Safety system(s) | |
| Coupling system | Dellner 12[3] |
| Multiple working | Not provided[5] |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge |
TheBritish Rail Class 390Pendolino is a type of electric high-speed passenger train operated byAvanti West Coast in Great Britain, leased fromAngel Trains.[3] They areelectric multiple units, usingFiat Ferroviaria's tilting trainPendolino technology and built byAlstom.
Fifty-three eight-car units were originally built between 2001 and 2005 for operation on theWest Coast Main Line (WCML). The trains of the original batch were the last to be assembled at Alstom'sWashwood Heath plant, before its closure in 2005. The trains were subsequently extended to nine-cars in the mid-2000s. Some trains were lengthened further to 11-cars in the 2010s, being renumbered as the subclass 390/1. An additional batch of four 11-car trains were built in Italy.
The Class 390Pendolino has a design speed of 140 mph (225 km/h); however, limitations to track signalling systems restrict the trains to a maximum speed of 125 mph (200 km/h) in service. The fleet is maintained atLongsight TMD nearManchester Piccadilly station.
In 2021, a £117 million refurbishment programme to upgrade the fleet toas new condition began; this has included conversion of one first-class carriage to standard class to increase capacity, adding power sockets and new customer information screens.
During 1997, private operatorVirgin Rail Group started operating theInterCity West Coast franchise, taking over from state-owned operatorBritish Rail. Virgin had been awarded the franchise having made a commitment to replace the locomotives and rolling stock in use on the route, namely the classes86,87 and90electric locomotives andMark 2 andMark 3 coaching stock, with brand newtilting trains. Following negotiations with several manufacturers, Virgin placed an order withAlstom/Fiat Ferroviaria to produce the envisionedtilting train, which was known by the namePendolino and was later designated underTOPS as theClass 390.[10]
The purpose of tilt on the Pendolino was to maintain passenger comfort levels when traversing curves at high speed by reducing the sideways forces on the train's occupants, minimising their tendency to slide across the carriage.[10] The train was designed to be visually impressive: the concept design for the Pendolino was originally produced by industrial design firm Priestman Goode in cooperation with JHL and Start Design and many aspects of the finished product, such as the shaping of its aerodynamic nose and much of the train's interior areas, can be attributed to them.[10]
The concept of deploying tilting trains on the West Coast Main Line was not an original one. During the 1980s and 1990s, British Rail had developed several plans to introduce new trains and pursued the development of the revolutionary, but ultimately unsuccessful,Class 370Advanced Passenger Train (APT) for a protracted period.[10] Some years after the cancellation of the APT, British Rail had intended to replace the existing fleet of trains on the West Coast Main Line (in conjunction with a planned route modernisation) as part of theInterCity 250 project, but this was cancelled by the government shortly before theprivatisation of British Rail during the late 1990s.
The original Pendolino order was for 54 nine-car units, costing £500 million.[11] As originally planned, a pre-series test train was scheduled to be completed and to be in active testing by July 2000, while the first Pendolino was to enter revenue service during March 2001. It was expected that the whole fleet would be delivered by May 2002.[11]
The Pendolinos were intended to run at service speeds of up to 140 mph (225 km/h).Railtrack, therefore, embarked on a modernisation of the West Coast Main Line to allow for the faster line speeds.[11] However, the programme ran into serious difficulties. By its end, it was almost four times over-budget, had been delayed by a number of years, and had not improved the infrastructure as much as had been planned. Consequently, and in a manner reminiscent of the introduction of theInterCity 225, the lack of signalling upgrades resulted in the maximum line speed being set at 125 mph (200 km/h). Although the Pendolino's in-service top speed is well below British Rail's hopes for the APT, which was to reach up to 155 mph (250 km/h), it does match the maximum speed of 125 mph for the APT in passenger service.
Fiat Ferroviaria introduced its first tilting trains during the 1970s. They were first operated on the Italian railways in 1976.[10] Fiat Ferroviaria supplied much of the content of the Class 390, including the unit's bodyshell and the bogies, while final assembly was carried out at Washwood Heath. The tilting technology was developed bySIG Switzerland (later Fiat-SIG, today Alstom). Each car uses a pair ofelectromechanicalactuators to achieve the desired tilting angle. The train can tilt to a maximum of eight degrees, at which point one side of the train is 380 mm (15 in) higher above the track than the other. In contrast to other Fiat Ferroviaria tilting trains which usehydraulic tilting actuators, the electromechanical system offers lower maintenance cost and higher efficiency.[10]
The Pendolino is a high-speed electric multiple unit train, which incorporates Fiat Ferroviaria's tilting trainPendolino technology. According to Ian Scoley of the design firm Priestman Goode, the design of the Pendolino is "more reminiscent of an aircraft than a train". It has a maximum design speed of 140 mph (225 km/h), which requires compatible infrastructure to do so. A nine-carriage Pendolino reportedly weighs around 471 tonnes, which is equivalent to a dozen fully laden lorries. The structure of the Pendolino is largely composed of extruded aluminium panels; allegedly, this material is responsible for the train's exterior surface being considerably smoother than its steel counterparts. The cross-section of the bodyshell is deliberatelytapered; the need for this shaping is imposed by the train's ability to tilt around corners. To avoid the risk of striking passing trains or static structures while a carriage is being tilted, the body must be narrower towards the top than it is at wheel height.[10]
The nose of the Pendolino is manufactured out of composite materials andmoulded in a similar fashion as has been used to produce the shells ofracing cars. This construction methodology has been claimed to have been readily compatible with the aerodynamic contouring techniques practised while also retaining considerable structural strength. Allegedly, at one stage of development, the nose was intended totaper as far forwards as 7 m (23 ft), similar to the noses of Japanesebullet trains. However, as the design was refined, this was reduced to a tapering length of just 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) due to design constraints, while a roof fairing extends the curvature rearwards by a further 3 m (9 ft 10 in), located directly above and behind the driver's windscreen. To validate its performance, the forward section of the trains was subject to considerable aerodynamic testing to prove its suitability for high-speed operations.[10]
ThePendolino features an actively actuated tilt system. Each of the carriages cantilt up to eight degrees from the vertical; this is done to manage the forces imposed between high speed trains and the track while traversing corners. On top of this, the lines of the Network Rail network are oftencanted up to six degrees, akin to a shallow-bankedvelodrome; when combined with the Pendolino's tilt system, the train can reportedly comfortably take curves at a 20 per cent greater speed than it otherwise would be able to do so.[10]
The active tilting mechanism is achieved using electrically operated tilt activators, which are situated under each carriage. Unlike some alternative systems, which are pre-programmed to tilt at sections of a pre-determined route, the Pendolino's tilt system actively detects the upcoming corners using sensors and tilts appropriately to correspond. As tilting may not be appropriate or possible at some locations along the route, such as when travelling close to bridges and tunnels, the tilt mechanism can be disabled by an onboard system, called theTilt Authorisation and Speed Supervision (TASS). This system relies upon tracksidebeacons, which are typically spaced around 5 miles (8.0 km) from one another, to transmit data to the train; this information, as well as temporarily locking-out the tilting mechanism from being used on relevant stretches of track, also relays the maximum permissible speeds for the adjacent corners.[10]
ThePendolino incorporates several different onboard safety systems, including theAutomatic Warning System (AWS) and theTrain Protection Warning System (TPWS); it was also planned to install compatible equipment for theEuropean Train Control System (ETCS). These systems automatically deliver situational warnings regarding the relevant signals and speed limits to the driver and, if not reacted to appropriately, are able to bring the train to a complete halt. Unlike most trains, it also features aTilt Authorisation and Speed Supervision (TASS) system, which is used to control the onboard tilting mechanism. In the event of an accident, each Pendolino also incorporates ablack box data recorder. Another structural measure designed to help dissipate the forces involved in an incident involving a severe collision, are thecrush zones, which can reportedly absorb three times the forces of existingHigh Speed Trains.[10]
ThePendolino features relatively shallow windows in comparison to trains such as theVoyager; visually, the windows are linked by a black livery line to form a continuous band running along the length of the train. A combination of structural constraints and internal configuration selections had determined the narrowness of the windows; the adoption of larger windows would have intrinsically weakened the bodyshell of each carriage. Reportedly, consideration was given to the adoption of asymmetric window layout during the design process, but this was ultimately discarded in favour of the arrangement used in service instead.[10]
Due to these design choices, thePendolino has a very high level of structural integrity. In theGrayrigg derailment incident, where the unit involved was travelling at a speed of 95 mph (150 km/h) and derailed at a set of points sending the carriages off the track and down a bank, one died and 30 were seriously injured from the 104 passengers and four crew. This low fatality number is attributed to the strength and safety of the unit.[12]
ThePendolino's propulsion system incorporates Alstom's Onix traction drive system, which controls 12 separatetraction motors, each capable of providing up to 570 horsepower (430 kW).[10] Traction motors are suspended from the underside of the carriage bodies and connected to the driving wheels using aCardan shaft and transfer gearbox thus lowering theunsprung mass and consequent track wear at high speeds, a feature inherited from its APT ancestor.[12] Combined, they are capable of producing a rate of acceleration of up to 0.43 ms−2, which enables the train to accelerate from stationary to 60 mph (100 km/h) in just over 60 seconds. Power for eachPendolino is supplied in the form of 25,000 volts AC, and is delivered via theoverhead catenary infrastructure installed across its route.[10] A particularly unusual measure, which was adopted to account for the train's tilting ability, is incorporated into thepantograph, the roof-mounted mechanism which connects the train to the overhead wires; it also features an active tilting system, which moves the pantograph to a precise angle in opposition to the direction of the carriages' tilt, allowing contact with the overhead catenary to be smoothly maintained.[10]
ThePendolino features a number of amenities and innovations, such as a walk-in shop in place of the traditional buffet/restaurant car and the extensive presence of passenger visual information systems, which are installed on both the inside of the car ends and on the outside of the doors themselves.[10] In response to criticisms of the pressure-operated automatic gangway doors fitted to theMark 3 andMark 4 carriages (which could easily be held open by items of luggage resting on the floor sensor, allowing draughts into the passenger saloon), the gangway doors of thePendolino have press buttons instead. To assist the boarding process, the doors deploy folding steps at stations.
Originally, every seat had an integrated on-board entertainment system, which featured radio stations, includingVirgin Radio, severalBBC stations and a number of pre-recorded music channels. Listings booklets were provided on board and headphones could be purchased at the shop.[10] During March 2010, this system was replaced by onboardWi-Fi fromT-Mobile.[13] First class passengers were provided with a 240 voltmains power socket at each seat.[10]
ThePendolino uses an electronic seat reservations system. Each seat has a smalldot-matrixLCD installed near the top. If the seat is reserved, the display shows the station the seat is booked from until the train leaves that station; it subsequently displays "Available unless occupied". The display can also show the name of the passenger if this has been entered at the time of booking. This information is provided by the onboard Train Management System (TMS), which downloads current data via mobile operatorVodafone’s wireless network from the national Customer Reservation System shared by all train operators. The TMS is also used to provide route information to the passenger visual information systems. If a train is rescheduled, the system can rapidly be updated and the displayed information changed to reflect the new schedule.[10]
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The original 53-unit Pendolino fleet was delivered in nine-car formation (although some units initially operated as eight-car units), with vehicles built at the formerMetro-Cammell Washwood Heath plant (by then owned by Alstom), in Birmingham. Thirty-one units were later extended to 11-car formation, with the addition of two new carriages (the 653xx Trailer (Car U) and the 689xx Motor (Car F)), built by Alstom atSavigliano in Italy. Units that had been extended were renumbered into the 390/1 range by having 100 added to their original unit numbers (for example, 390003 became 390103).
The service introduction of thePendolino was repeatedly delayed, a fact which has been attributed to the poor project management and the collapse of infrastructure owner Railtrack.[14] The fleet was introduced into passenger services fromBirmingham International to Manchester Piccadilly on 23 July 2002 to coincide with the opening of the2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.[15] During the Games, they operated a daily return service between the two cities; however, it was not until 27 January 2003 that the firstPendolino carried passengers between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly.[14]
During 2004, the fleet's sphere of operation was expanded further. Pendolinos started to operate services toGlasgow Central and, by the end of summer in theory, all services north of Preston were worked by Class 390 units. This allowed the final Class 90 locomotives to be withdrawn and inroads were made into the mainClass 87 fleet.
Another development during 2004 was the clearing of the units for theNorth Wales Coast Line fromCrewe toHolyhead. This line is not electrified, so Virgin'sClass 57/3 Thunderbirddiesel locomotives were used to haul the Pendolinos. After Virgin Trains lost theCrossCountry franchise, the company decided to allocate its remainingClass 221Super Voyagers to the coastal line, ending the practice of haulingPendolinos from Crewe and thus making several Class 57 locomotives redundant. These locomotives have specialDellner coupling adaptors and electrical systems to make them compatible with Pendolino trains, allowing failed units to be rescued quicker. The Class 57s are also used when engineering works force Pendolino services to run over non-electrified diversionary routes.
The entirePendolino fleet is allocated to Alstom'sManchester Traincare Centre atLongsight, where heavy maintenance is carried out. Longsight has a hoist on which an entire Pendolino unit can be lifted. Lighter maintenance, cleaning and overnight stabling are carried out at Alstom's other centres: Wembley (London),Oxley (Wolverhampton),Edge Hill (Liverpool) and Polmadie (Glasgow).
In October 2004, a train overshot the platform atLiverpool Lime Street station and collided with the buffer stops, and a similar incident occurred a few weeks later at the same station.[16] TheRail Safety and Standards Board's inquiry into the incident identified asoftware glitch in the wheel-slip protection (WSP) system whereby the train's friction brakes were inhibited at low speeds after prolonged coasting (such as that occurring on approach to a station). The units were limited to 110 mph (180 km/h) for a short period until modifications to the software were made.[17]
As a result of the smaller cabin dimensions necessitated by the tilting geometry, the higher floor needed to package the tilting mechanisms themselves, and the need to provide disabled toilets, the units have a lowerseating capacity than the nine-car Mark 2 and Mark 3 rakes that they replaced. The result has been severe overcrowding on some services, something that Virgin somewhat mitigated through the increased frequency of service, and with the increase to 11-car formations.
The smaller size of thePendolino windows has attracted comment and, in fact, the window size is unprecedented for British railway rolling stock. The wider window pillars mean that in some standard class carriages, 22.5% of the seats are parallel with either no window or only a limited portion of one; however the roll-over strength of the bodyshell was commented on regarding the crashworthiness performance of the train in the RAIB Accident Report into the derailment at Grayrigg.[18]
On 23 February 2007, a faulty set ofpoints caused a Virgin TrainsPendolino toderail nearGrayrigg, inCumbria. The train, unit 390033, namedCity of Glasgow, formed the 17:15 departure from London Euston bound for Glasgow Central. 115 people were on board, one of whom died from trauma suffered in the crash. The train's excellentcrashworthiness was credited with preventing more fatalities.
The train was formally written off on 30 November 2007, owing to the prohibitive cost of repair against the price of a new unit; a driving car and carriage from the train were subsequently put into use for training purposes at the Virgin Trains Talent Academy in Crewe.[19] Virgin Trains then leased a Class 90, Mk3 coaches and aDriving Van Trailer, all painted in Virgin's new livery, and nicknamed thePretendolino by Alstom maintenance staff, as a temporary replacement for the written-off train.[20] Occasionally, the name even appeared in official communications.[21] Subsequently, the set was handed back to the leasing company.
On 3 November 2025, an Avanti West CoastPendolino derailed atShap after running into a landslide obstructing the line. The train, unit 390117, was operating the 04:27Glasgow Central toLondon Euston service.[22][23]
In September 2006, a Pendolino completed the fastest ever southbound run along the 401 mi (645 km) length of theWest Coast Main Line from Glasgow Central to London Euston, at 3 hours and 55 minutes. The previous record was 4 hours and 14 minutes, set in 1981 by the Pendolino's ancestor, British Rail's Advanced Passenger Train (APT).[24]
In June 2021, another record-breaking attempt was made with a Pendolino, this time in the northbound direction. It completed the journey in 3 hours, 53 minutes and 1 second; faster than the 2006 Pendolino run, but narrowly missing the APT's northbound record, which stands at 3 hours, 52 minutes and 40 seconds.[25]
Though the trains are limited to a maximum of 125 mph in service, faster runs have been made in 2003 when the trains were in the final stages of testing before introduction to service. On night-time runs between Rugby, Nuneaton and Lichfield Trent Valley, 390002 achieved a record speed for the class of 145.7 mph (234.5 km/h), as witnessed byModern Railways magazine.[26]
Following a large increase in passenger numbers following the WCML modernisation, theDepartment for Transport announced a capacity increase by procuring additional units (with one intended to replace the unit damaged at Grayrigg). Four new units have been built with 11 cars, and 31 existing units lengthened to 11 cars.[27]
This required major changes to stations and depots to accommodate the 11-car units. Virgin Rail Projects was set up to introduce these new trains with the new franchise winner as well as Alstom, Network Rail and the current franchise holder, Virgin Trains West Coast, to ensure the new units were able to run from 1 April 2012.
The additional vehicles were manufactured in Alstom'sSavigliano factory in Italy because Washwood Heath works had closed.[28]
The first new units were built with 11 cars and delivered via theChannel Tunnel to Edge Hill.[29][30] The first was accepted on 12 July 2011.
In March 2012, unit 390055 operated a test run on theEast Coast Main Line fromEdinburgh Waverley toLondon King's Cross.[31]
With the franchise process in place, and Virgin Trains' franchise extended until December 2012, the first 11-car unit (390156) entered service on 5 April 2012. The remaining new units were brought into service, and 31 units increased to 11 carriages, over the next eight months.[32] The lengthening project was completed in December 2012.[33]
As part of the subsequent extension of the franchise until April 2017,[34][35] Virgin Trains made further enhancements to the Pendolinos.[36] The 21 nine-car units each had one first class carriage converted to standard class.[37][38][39] This work was completed by September 2015.[40]
In its successful submission to operate services from London Euston toBlackpool North,Alliance Rail Holdings proposed purchasing four Class 390s for entry into service in 2018. However, as the 390s no longer met crashworthiness standards for new trains, aderogation would have been required.[41] With Alliance Rail not able to obtain this, in June 2017 it dropped its plans to purchase 390s.[41][42]
In December 2019, all 56 trains transferred to Avanti West Coast, operators of the newWest Coast Partnership.[43] A major interior refurbishment of the fleet commenced in 2021, involving the replacement of all carpeting and standard-class seats, installation of power sockets at every seat, provision of more luggage space in second class, refitting of the onboard shop, installation of new lighting and the reupholstering of existing seats in first and standard premium classes.[44][45][46] Additionally, one first-class coach in each of the 35 eleven-car 390/1 units was converted to standard class in order to provide additional capacity.[46] The refurbishment programme cost £117 million and ran until 2024, with the work being performed byAlstom atWidnes, inCheshire.[45][46]
The first of the refurbished units returned to service on 25 April 2022.[46] The refurbishment has resulted in a modest increase in capacity on the 11-car sets because of the conversion of coach G from first class to standard class. The result, once adjustments for the new standard class seats are taken into account, is an additional 64 standard class seats and a loss of 46 first class seats, for a new total capacity of 607 seats.[47][48]
| Class | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 390/0 | Avanti West Coast | 22 | 2001–2005 | 9 | 390001–390002, 390005–390006, 390008–390011, 390013, 390016, 390020, 390039–390040, 390042–390047, 390049–390050[4] | 390033 scrapped due toGrayrigg derailment, 2 vehicles at AWC training centre for training |
| 390/1 | 31 | 11 | 390103–390104, 390107, 390112, 390114–390115, 390117–390119, 390121–390132, 390134–390138, 390141, 390148, 390151–390153[4] | 31 units lengthened to 11 cars each in 2012. | ||
| 4 | 2010–2012 | 390154–390157[4] | New units purchased as part of extension order.[30] |
All units were delivered in Virgin Trains livery of silver bodysides with black areas around the windows, red roofs and red cab-sides with the red areas on the cabs separated from the silver with a curved white band. Doors were originally painted with grey and white stripes. These were re-vinyled in plain grey in 2015.
From September 2017 onwards, the fleet was repainted by Alstom in Widnes into a new livery known asFlowing Silk, featuring plain white bodysides, black roofs and a vinyl applied red swoosh around the driving cab intended to visually represent a moving piece of silk.[49][50] The livery was designed to use neutral colours at the behest of the Department for Transport to allow for an easier rebranding.[51] The first unit to wear this livery was 390010.[52] All of the nine-car units were repainted with last to be treated in August 2018, with repaints then commencing on the 11-car units. The final unit to receive the full Flowing Silk livery did so in August 2019. Subsequent repaints omitted all Virgin branding in preparation for the end of the franchise in December 2019.[53]
All 53 of the original units were given cast nameplates in a standard style bearing the wordPendolino on the top of each name although several units were subsequently renamed with similar replacement cast nameplates being fitted. New cast names were applied to the additional four units after they had initially entered service without names.
Cast nameplates were removed from each unit when they were repainted intoFlowing Silk in 2017–2018 and most of the Virgin-prefixed names have not been reapplied. However, those named after places, people and events have generally had the name reapplied in the form of a vinyl sticker.[51][54]
| Key: | In service | Scrapped |
|---|
| Number | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 390001 | Bee Together[54] | Named on 20 July 2018 to mark launch of exhibition of over 100 sculptures of Manchester's worker bee emblem.[55] |
| 390002 | Stephen Sutton[54] | Named after teenage cancer patient who raised over £5 million before his death in 2014.[56] |
| Asquith Xavier[57] | FormerlyVirgin Hero. Between 2014 and 2019 carriedRoyal British Legion World War I commemorative branding.[citation needed] |
| Alstom Pendolino[54] | In September 2010 it was given a co-branded livery in partnership with Alstom and Virgin Trains.[58][59] |
| 390005 | City of Wolverhampton[60][54] | |
| 390006 | Rethink Mental Illness[54] | FormerlyVirgin Sun. Before that,Mission: Impossible.[26] |
| 390008 | Charles Rennie Mackintosh[54] | FormerlyVirgin King. Named at Glasgow Central on 19 March 2018 as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of famed architect and artist[61][54] |
| 390009 | Treaty of Union[60][54] | FormerlyVirgin Queen |
| 390010 | Cumbrian Spirit[62] | FormerlyCommonwealth Games 2002, then renamedChris Green, then renamedA Decade of Progress at Wolverhampton in May 2007 after a book written by John Balmforth. Was the first nine-car Pendolino to have Virgin's updatedFlowing Silk livery. CastThe Cumbrian Spirit nameplates removed and name now carried by a sticker in the same style. |
| 390011 | City of Lichfield[60][54] | |
| FormerlyVirgin Star. Wore temporarily applied Christmas-themed vinyls on each driving car during December 2014 and branded 'Traindeer'[63] | |
| 390013 | Blackpool Belle | FormerlyVirgin Spirit. Wore temporarily applied Christmas-themed vinyls on each driving car during December 2015 and branded 'Penguilino'.[64] Named ‘'Blackpool Belle'’ in 2018 to celebrate the launch of Pendolino services to Blackpool.[65] |
| City of Manchester[60][54] | |
| Crewe All Change | FormerlyVirgin Crusader[60] |
| Railway 200 | Named to mark 200th anniversary of the modern railway.[66] |
| Blue Peter | FormerlyVirgin Prince.[60] Current name unveiled in October 2018 to mark the 60th anniversary of the BBC children's TV programme of the same name.[67]Derailed at Shap on 3 November 2025.[68] |
| FormerlyVirgin Princess[60] | |
| Progress | FormerlyVirgin Warrior,[60] then renamedUnknown Soldier. Name unveiled on 11 November 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the end ofWorld War I. Carries vinyls on all 11 carriages for Avanti West Coast Pride |
| 390020 | FormerlyVirgin Cavalier.[69] | |
| Opportunity[70] | FormerlyVirgin Dream[60] Carries vinyls on all 11 carriages forAvanti West Coast climate livery forCop26 inGlasgow to tackle climate change. |
| Penny the Pendolino[71] | FormerlyVirgin Hope |
| FormerlyVirgin Stagecoach. First Pendolino to have Avanti's fully refurbished interior.[72] | |
| 390027 (390127) | FormerlyVirgin Buccaneer, and previously,Jessica Varnish.[73] | |
| City of Preston[54] | |
| City of Stoke-on-Trent Centenary 1925-2025[74] | FormerlyCity of Stoke-on-Trent[54] Wore temporarily applied vinyls on all nine coaches advertisingSuperman Returns during 2006 and temporarily applied vinyls on all nine coaches advertisingMonkey: Journey to the West during 2007. Cab-end nameplatesBrett installed in 2022.[75] |
| City of Edinburgh[54] | |
| City of Liverpool[54] | |
| City of Birmingham[54] | |
| 390033 | City of Glasgow | Crashed at Grayrigg on 23 February 2007; formally written off on 30 November 2007.[76][77] The two undamaged vehicles were taken to the Virgin Trains staff training centre in Crewe.[19] One damaged, but substantially intact, vehicle was donated toCranfield University's accident investigation laboratory,[78] and a further two such vehicles were used at theFire Service College inMoreton-in-Marsh until they were scrapped in 2022.[79] |
| City of Carlisle[54] | |
| City of Lancaster[54] | Name missing on one side since repaint June 2019, name only carried on eastern side (when running in normal formation). |
| City of Coventry[54] | |
| City of London[54] | |
| 390039 | Lady Godiva | FormerlyVirgin Quest. RenamedLady Godiva on 4 April 2019.[80][81] It also has the newCoventry flag on it.[82] |
| 390042 | NameCity of Bangor/Dinas Bangor was moved toClass 221Super Voyager unit 221 116.[54] | |
| 390044 | Royal Scot | FormerlyVirgin Lionheart. Renamed before attempting to beat the London to Glasgow speed record set by the APT.[83] The train failed by 21 seconds but set a new London to Glasgow speed record for the Class 390.[84] |
| 390045 | Birmingham Pride[85] | FormerlyVirgin Valiant, then101 Squadron, thenVirgin Pride. Carried rainbow branding on coaches A and K with #ridewithpride slogan. |
| 390047 | FormerlyCLIC Sargent. | |
| Flying Scouseman | FormerlyVirgin Harrier. Renamed as part of theLiverpool Echo train naming competition in June 2017.[86] |
| 390049 | FormerlyVirgin Express[60] | |
| 390050 | FormerlyVirgin Invader[87] | |
| 390051 (390151) | Unknown Soldier | FormerlyVirgin Ambassador. Carrying a newRoyal British Legion commemorative poppy livery.[88] |
| 390155 | Railway Benefit Fund | FormerlyX-Men: Days of Future Past. Named atEuston station on 31 March 2014 to promote the film of the same name.[89][90] NamedRailway Benefit Fund in April 2021 as part of a fundraising drive by Avanti West Coast, promoting the charity of the same name.[91] |
| 390156 | Pride and Prosperity[92][54] | |
| 390157 | Chad Varah[93] |
Until the Cumbria crash there had been only minor incidents involving the Pendolino train. These included two incidents at Liverpool Lime Street where the train hit buffers at the platform.
Virgin Trains made the 401 mile journey in three hours and 55 minutes - knocking 19 minutes off the record set 25 years ago
Five rail industry organisations were today celebrating the successful completion of a project to provide an extra 7006 seats to the West Coast Pendolino fleet which now has a total of 29,834 seats. 106 carriages were ordered by the Department for Transport (DfT) in July 2008 to create four completely new 11-car trains (44 carriages) and to lengthen 31 of the existing trains from 9 to 11 carriages (62 carriages)
Alstom and Virgin Trains launched a co-branded branded Pendolino at London Euston today.
The 390008 Pendolino train, adorned with Mackintosh's trademark moustache on the front and his name displayed in his own lettering on plaques on either side, arrived into Glasgow Central station at 09.45am this morning.
Pendolino 390010 now carries the name 'The Cumbrian Spirit' to acknowledge the courage and resolve shown by local as they rebuild their lives and businesses after the floods.
Sisters, Ella and Ruby Prior from Congleton, Cheshire have had their artistic vision brought to life as Virgin Trains reveals a "Traindeer" on their network, which was inspired by the design submitted by the girls for a Christmas card competition. The Pendolino train was given the full festive treatment and was transformed into a reindeer (complete with a red nose!) before being unveiled at Manchester Piccadilly station in a surprise reveal.
Virgin Trains has named one of its Pendolinos Blackpool Belle to celebrate the launch of its first electric services to and from the resort today (Monday 21 May). The 390013 Pendolino carries the name made famous by the resort's first illuminated tram and an excursion train which took people across Lancashire for a Saturday night of dancing through the 1930s to 1960s.
Virgin Trains has named one of its flagship PendolinosBlue Peter to mark the 60th birthday of the world's longest running children's TV show.
Pendolino 390039 also proudly adorns the city's first official flag on each cab end.
Pendolino family trains | |
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China | |
Czech Republic | |
Finland | |
Germany / Austria | |
Greece | |
Italy | |
Poland | |
Portugal | |
Slovenia | |
Spain | |
Switzerland | |
United Kingdom | |
United States | |
