British Rail Class 390
| Company type | Electric multiple unit train fleet |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Alstom, Fiat Ferroviaria |
| Headquarters | Birmingham , United Kingdom |
Area served | Great Britain |
Key people | Ian Scoley (design contributor) |
| Products | High-speed tilting trains |
| Owner | Angel Trains (leased to Avanti West Coast) |
| Parent | Alstom (manufacturer) |
The British Rail Class 390 Pendolino represents a fleet of high-speed electric multiple units operated by Avanti West Coast across Great Britain, under lease from Angel Trains. Constructed by Alstom employing Fiat Ferroviaria’s Pendolino tilting technology, a total of fifty-three eight-car sets were manufactured between 2001 and 2005 specifically for the West Coast Main Line (WCML). These units marked the final trains assembled at Alstom’s Washwood Heath facility prior to its closure in 2005.
Initially configured as eight-car formations, these trains were lengthened to nine cars during the mid-2000s, with some later expanded to eleven cars in the 2010s and reclassified as subclass 390/1. Additionally, four more eleven-car sets were produced in Italy.
Although engineered for speeds up to , operational constraints related to track signalling limit their service speed to . The maintenance of this fleet is conducted at Longsight TMD located near .
A comprehensive £117 million refurbishment programme commenced in 2021, aiming to restore the fleet to an as new standard. Upgrades include converting one first-class carriage into standard class to boost capacity, fitting power outlets throughout the trains, and installing updated customer information displays.
Background
In 1997, the private enterprise Virgin Rail Group assumed control of the InterCity West Coast franchise from the publicly owned British Rail. Virgin secured this franchise with a commitment to replace existing locomotives and rolling stock—including classes , , and electric locomotives along with British Rail Mark 2 and British Rail Mark 3 coaches—with modern tilting trains. Following negotiations, Virgin placed an order for the Pendolino with Alstom/Fiat Ferroviaria, later designated as Class 390 under the TOPS classification system.
The Pendolino’s tilting mechanism improves ride quality by reducing lateral forces experienced by passengers when traversing curves at high velocity. Its streamlined exterior and interior design were crafted by industrial design firm Priestman Goode in partnership with JHL and Start Design.
Tilting technology was not novel on the West Coast Main Line; British Rail had previously developed the Advanced Passenger Train (APT) during the 1980s and early 1990s, though it ultimately did not succeed. Efforts to upgrade the corridor with new rolling stock under the InterCity 250 initiative were abandoned prior to British Rail’s privatization.
The initial procurement included 54 nine-car units at a cost of £500 million. Testing was scheduled for July 2000, with commercial operations beginning in March 2001 and full delivery anticipated by May 2002.
Designed for a maximum speed of , these Pendolinos motivated Railtrack to invest in modernizing the West Coast Main Line infrastructure. However, this modernization encountered considerable delays and budget increases, resulting in fewer improvements than originally planned. Consequently, maximum permitted speeds were limited to , matching those of the earlier APT trains in passenger service.
Fiat Ferroviaria pioneered tilting train technology in Italy during the 1970s and supplied critical components for the Class 390 units such as bodyshells and bogies, with final assembly taking place at Washwood Heath. The tilting system, developed by Swiss company SIG (later Fiat-SIG, now part of Alstom), employs electromechanical actuators that allow up to eight degrees of tilt—raising one side of the train relative to the track by . This electromechanical approach offers reduced maintenance requirements and improved efficiency compared to hydraulic systems used on other Fiat Ferroviaria tilting trains.
Overview
The Pendolino is a high-speed electric multiple unit train that incorporates Fiat Ferroviaria's advanced tilting technology. Ian Scoley from Priestman Goode likened its appearance to that of an aircraft rather than a traditional train. Designed to reach speeds up to , it necessitates infrastructure capable of supporting such velocity. A nine-car set weighs approximately 471 tonnes, comparable to the load of twelve fully loaded trucks. Its construction mainly consists of extruded aluminium panels, which provide a smoother exterior finish compared to steel models. The cross-sectional shape of the bodyshell tapers inward, being narrower at the top than at wheel height, allowing safe tilting clearance without contacting adjacent trains or structures.
The train’s nose is crafted from composite materials and shaped similarly to racing car shells, merging aerodynamic efficiency with structural rigidity. Originally, the nose was intended to taper forward by up to , but this was scaled back to due to practical limitations. Additionally, a roof fairing extends the curvature by another above and behind the driver’s windshield. Comprehensive aerodynamic testing confirmed the design’s suitability for high-speed operation.
Tilting
The Pendolino employs an active tilt system that enables each carriage to lean up to eight degrees from vertical, reducing lateral forces on curves. Since Network Rail tracks typically feature cant angles up to six degrees, this tilt capability allows the train to take bends approximately 20 percent faster than conventional rolling stock.
This tilting mechanism is powered by electric actuators beneath each carriage and actively senses upcoming curves through onboard sensors rather than relying solely on pre-set route data. The system can be deactivated when approaching bridges or tunnels using the Tilt Authorisation and Speed Supervision (TASS) system, which communicates restrictions and speed limits via trackside beacons placed roughly apart.
Safety
The Pendolino is equipped with several onboard safety technologies, including the Automatic Warning System (AWS), Train Protection Warning System (TPWS), and planned integration with the European Train Control System (ETCS). These systems automatically alert drivers about signals and speed constraints and can apply emergency braking if necessary. A distinctive feature is the Tilt Authorisation and Speed Supervision (TASS) system that governs the tilt function. Each trainset also contains a black box data recorder for event monitoring. Structurally, it incorporates crush zones designed to absorb impact forces up to three times greater than those found in existing High Speed Trains.
The windows are relatively shallow and connected by a black band running along the train’s side, creating a continuous visual ribbon. This arrangement enhances structural strength while accommodating interior design needs; larger windows would compromise the bodyshell’s integrity. Although an asymmetric window design was evaluated, it was ultimately dismissed.
These engineering choices contribute significantly to the train’s robustness. For example, during the Grayrigg derailment at , where a Pendolino went off the rails, only one fatality occurred among 108 passengers onboard—a testament to its strong safety architecture.
Traction systems
The Pendolino is equipped with Alstom's Onix traction drive technology, which controls 12 traction motors, each capable of delivering up to . These motors are mounted beneath the carriages and linked through a Cardan shaft and transfer gearbox, a design choice intended to minimize unsprung mass and reduce track wear at high velocities—an innovation inherited from its APT forerunner. This integrated system allows the train to accelerate at rates reaching 0.43 ms−2, achieving in slightly over one minute.
Electric power is drawn from a 25,000volt AC supply via overhead catenary lines. To facilitate the tilting mechanism, the pantograph installed on the roof actively adjusts its angle opposite to the carriage tilt, ensuring uninterrupted contact with the overhead wires.
Passenger amenities
Passenger comfort aboard the Pendolino is enhanced by several innovative features, such as a walk-in retail outlet replacing the conventional buffet car and comprehensive visual information displays located at carriage ends and door exteriors. Unlike the pressure-sensitive automatic gangway doors found on Mark 3 and Mark 4 coaches—which could be inadvertently held open by luggage causing drafts—the Pendolino employs push-button operated gangway doors equipped with folding steps to ease boarding.
Initially, every seat was fitted with an integrated entertainment system offering radio channels including Virgin Radio and various BBC stations, alongside a selection of pre-recorded music channels. Passengers could purchase headphones onboard. This setup was replaced in March 2010 by onboard Wi-Fi service provided by T-Mobile. First-class travelers benefit from 240-volt mains power outlets available at each seat.
An electronic seat reservation system is utilized, featuring compact dot-matrix LCD screens that display reservation status or availability. This system is overseen by the onboard Train Management System (TMS), which receives updates through Vodafone’s wireless network connected to the national Customer Reservation System shared among operators. The TMS also supplies route information to passenger displays and supports quick updates in response to timetable changes.
Consist
The initial Pendolino fleet consisted of 53 units configured in nine-car sets, with some starting as eight-car formations. All vehicles were constructed at the former Metro-Cammell Washwood Heath facility (later acquired by Alstom) in Birmingham. Subsequently, 31 units were lengthened to 11-car sets by incorporating two additional carriages—a Trailer (Car U) and a Motor (Car F)—produced by Alstom in Savigliano, Italy. These extended trains were renumbered into the 390/1 subclass by adding 100 to their original unit numbers (for example, unit 390003 was redesignated as 390103).
Operations
The Pendolino rollout experienced delays attributed to ineffective project management and the failure of infrastructure owner Railtrack. Passenger services commenced between and Manchester Piccadilly on 23 July 2002, coinciding with the 2002 Commonwealth Games held in Manchester. Initially, a daily return service operated during the Games period, with full London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly services launching on 27 January 2003.
By 2004, operations expanded further as Pendolinos began serving , covering all routes north of Preston during summer months. This expansion facilitated the withdrawal of Class 90 locomotives and decreased dependence on the main fleet.
That same year, Pendolinos were authorized for use on the non-electrified North Wales Coast Line between and , where they were hauled by Virgin's diesel-powered locomotives. Following Virgin’s loss of the CrossCountry franchise, their remaining locomotives were reassigned to this line, ending Pendolino haulage by Class 57s and rendering several units surplus. These Class 57 locomotives are equipped with specialized coupling adaptors and electrical systems compatible with Pendolinos, enabling swift rescue operations for failed trains and deployment on non-electrified diversion routes during maintenance work.
Maintenance of the entire Pendolino fleet is centralized at Alstom's Manchester Traincare Centre in Longsight, which features a hoist capable of lifting complete trainsets. Routine servicing, cleaning, and overnight stabling are conducted at Alstom facilities located in Wembley (London), Oxley (Wolverhampton), Edge Hill (Liverpool), and Polmadie (Glasgow).
Issues and incidents
In October 2004, a train failed to stop correctly at station, resulting in a collision with the buffer stops; a comparable incident happened a few weeks later. Investigation by the Rail Safety and Standards Board revealed a software fault in the wheel-slip protection (WSP) system, which disabled the friction brakes at low speeds following extended coasting periods. As a result, the trains were restricted to until the software was updated.
The tilting system's design, which includes reduced cabin space and elevated floor levels, means these units offer less seating capacity than the nine-car Mark 2 and Mark 3 sets they replaced. This contributed to overcrowding on certain services, which was partially alleviated by increasing service frequency and extending some trains to 11 cars.
The Pendolino is characterized by smaller-than-average windows for British trains, with wider window pillars leading to 22.5% of standard class seats lacking an unobstructed window view. Nevertheless, the structural roll-over strength of the bodyshell enhanced crash safety, as highlighted in the RAIB investigation into the Grayrigg derailment.
Grayrigg derailment
On 23 February 2007, defective track points caused Virgin Trains' Pendolino unit 390033 City of Glasgow to derail near Grayrigg, Cumbria. The 17:15 service from London Euston to Glasgow Central was carrying 115 passengers; one person died due to injuries sustained in the accident. The train’s strong crashworthiness was credited with limiting casualties.
The damaged unit was decommissioned on 30 November 2007 because repair expenses exceeded replacement costs. A driving car and one carriage were converted for use in training at Virgin Trains Talent Academy in Crewe. To substitute temporarily, Virgin leased a Class 90 locomotive with Mk3 coaches and a Driving Van Trailer—informally called the Pretendolino by Alstom staff—which was eventually returned to its leasing company.
Speed achievements
In September 2006, a Pendolino achieved the fastest southbound journey along the West Coast Main Line from Glasgow Central to London Euston in 3 hours and 55 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 4 hours and 14 minutes set by British Rail's Advanced Passenger Train (APT) in 1981.
In June 2021, a northbound Pendolino completed the route in 3 hours, 53 minutes, and 1 second, breaking the Pendolino’s own record from 2006 but narrowly missing the APT’s northbound record of 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 40 seconds.
Though restricted to a maximum operational speed of 125 mph, Pendolinos reached a class record speed of during final testing runs conducted overnight in 2003 between Rugby, Nuneaton, and Lichfield Trent Valley.
Capacity increases
Following substantial passenger demand growth after WCML modernisation, the Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned additional Pendolino trains to expand capacity. Four new units were constructed with 11 cars each, while 31 existing units were lengthened to 11 cars to provide more seating.
This capacity boost necessitated extensive upgrades at stations and depots. Virgin Rail Projects collaborated closely with Alstom, Network Rail, and Virgin Trains West Coast to prepare for operations commencing in April 2012.
The extra carriages were produced at Alstom’s Savigliano plant in Italy after the closure of Washwood Heath works. The first new eleven-car units arrived through the Channel Tunnel at Edge Hill, with acceptance of the initial unit on 12 July 2011.
In March 2012, unit 390055 performed a test journey on the East Coast Main Line from Edinburgh Waverley to London King's Cross. The first lengthened unit (390156) entered revenue service on 5 April 2012. Over the subsequent eight months, all newly built units were introduced and existing ones extended, completing the lengthening programme by December 2012. This expansion added around 7,000 seats across the fleet, increasing total capacity close to 30,000 seats.
Modification of nine-car train sets
After the franchise was extended until April 2017, Virgin Trains increased the capacity of its Pendolino fleet by converting one first-class carriage into standard class on each of the 21 nine-car formations. This adjustment, completed by September 2015, allowed for more passenger seats and contributed to enhanced service on the West Coast Main Line.
Alliance Rail Operations' intended acquisition
Following its successful bid to operate services from London Euston, Alliance Rail Holdings intended to acquire four Class 390 trains for deployment starting in 2018. However, as the Class 390 units no longer complied with updated crashworthiness regulations for new rolling stock, obtaining a derogation was necessary. Unable to secure this exemption, Alliance Rail withdrew its plans to purchase the 390s in June 2017.
Refurbishment under Avanti West Coast
In December 2019, all 56 trains were transferred to Avanti West Coast, the operator of the newly formed West Coast Partnership.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Beginning in 2021, Alstom undertook a £117 million interior overhaul at their Widnes facility in Cheshire. The refurbishment included installing new carpeting, replacing standard-class seating, fitting power outlets at every seat, expanding luggage space in second class, updating onboard retail areas, upgrading lighting systems, and reupholstering both first-class and premium standard seats.[1][2]
Moreover, one first-class coach in each of the thirty-five eleven-car 390/1 units was converted to standard class to boost seating capacity.[2] This programme continued through to 2024, with the initial refurbished unit re-entering service on 25 April 2022.[2] The conversion resulted in a net gain of eighteen seats per train—adding sixty-four standard-class seats while reducing forty-six first-class seats—bringing total capacity to 607 seats per unit.[3][4]
Fleet details
| 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 | Unit 390033 was scrapped following the Grayrigg derailment; two vehicles are used at AWC training centre. |
| 390/1 | 31 | 11 | 390103–390104, 390107, 390112, 390114–115, 390117–119, 390121–132, 390134–138, 390141, 390148, 390151–153 | All thirty-one units extended to eleven cars each during 2012. | ||
| 4 | 2010–2012 | 390154–157 | Additional units acquired as part of a franchise extension order. |
Liveries
When first delivered, all trains featured Virgin Trains’ signature silver sides with black window surrounds and red roofs and cab panels. The doors initially displayed grey and white striping but were updated to solid grey vinyl in 2015.
Starting from September 2017, Alstom repainted the fleet at Widnes with the Flowing Silk design: plain white sides paired with black roofs and a red vinyl swoosh around the cab representing flowing silk. This neutral livery was required by the Department for Transport to simplify future rebranding efforts. The first unit to receive this new paint scheme was number 390010. By August 2018 all nine-car sets had been fully repainted; work then progressed onto the eleven-car units. The last train was completed with the full livery by August 2019. Subsequent repainting removed all Virgin logos ahead of the franchise’s conclusion in December 2019.
Names
The initial fleet of 53 units all carried cast nameplates displaying Pendolino at the top; over time, several were updated with new cast plates bearing different names. The four additional units introduced later were fitted with cast names after they entered service without any.
When the Flowing Silk livery was applied during the 2017–2018 repaint program, cast nameplates were removed, and most names featuring the Virgin prefix were not reinstated. Nevertheless, names commemorating locations, individuals, and significant events were generally reapplied as vinyl decals.
List
| Key: | Currently active | Decommissioned |
|---|
- 390025
- (390125)
- 390028
- (390128)
- 390029
- (390129)
- 390030
- (390130)
- 390031
- (390131)
- 390032
- (390132)
- 390034
- (390134)
- 390035
- (390135)
- 390036
- (390136)
- 390038
- (390138)
- 390048
- (390148)
| Number | Name | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 390001 | Bee Together | Named on 20 July 2018 to celebrate an exhibition showcasing more than 100 sculptures of Manchester’s worker bee symbol. | |
| 390002 | Stephen Sutton | Dedicated to a teenage cancer fundraiser who amassed over £5 million prior to his passing in 2014. | |
|
Asquith Xavier | Previously known as Virgin Hero. Displayed Royal British Legion World War I commemorative branding from 2014 to 2019. | |
|
Alstom Pendolino | Showcased a joint livery featuring Alstom and Virgin Trains starting September 2010. | |
| 390005 | City of Wolverhampton | ||
| 390008 | Charles Rennie Mackintosh | Formerly called Virgin King. Named during Glasgow Central’s 150th anniversary celebrations in March 2018. | |
| 390009 | Treaty of Union | Previously known as Virgin Queen. | |
| 390010 | Cumbrian Spirit | Initially named Commonwealth Games 2002, later renamed Chris Green, then A Decade of Progress. It was the first nine-car Pendolino to feature Virgin’s updated Flowing Silk livery; currently, the name appears as a sticker. | |
| 390011 | City of Lichfield | ||
|
Formerly called Virgin Star. Temporarily rebranded as 'Traindeer' with Christmas-themed vinyls in December 2014. | ||
| 390013 | Blackpool Belle | Previously known as Virgin Spirit. Temporarily named 'Penguilino' in December 2015. Renamed in 2018 to mark Pendolino services to Blackpool. | |
|
City of Manchester | ||
|
Crewe All Change | Previously called Virgin Crusader. | |
|
Railway 200 | Named to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the modern railway. | |
|
Blue Peter | Formerly known as Virgin Prince. Renamed in October 2018 to celebrate the BBC children’s television show’s 60th anniversary. | |
|
Previously named Virgin Princess. | ||
|
Progress | Formerly titled Virgin Warrior, then renamed Unknown Soldier. Designated on the centenary of World War I in November 2018. Displays Avanti West Coast Pride vinyls across all carriages. | |
|
Opportunity | Formerly known as Virgin Dream. Features Avanti West Coast climate-themed livery for COP26 held in Glasgow. | |
|
Penny the Pendolino | Previously named Virgin Hope. | |
|
Previously called Virgin Stagecoach. The first Pendolino to undergo refurbishment with Avanti’s upgraded interior design. |
|||
|
City of Stoke-on-Trent#City_of_Stoke_on_Trent_Centenary_1925-2025 Formerly named City of Stoke-on-Trent. Displayed promotional vinyls for films and was named 'Brett' in tribute to a Duty Control Manager in 2022. |
|||
| 390033 | Glasgow#City_of_Glasgow | Involved in the Grayrigg crash (2007); officially written off. Undamaged vehicles were repurposed for training and research purposes until scrapped by 2022. | |
|
City of Lancaster#City_of_Lancaster Name missing on one side following repaint in June 2019; displayed only on eastern side during regular operations. |
|||
| 390039 | Lady Godiva | Previously known as Virgin Quest. Renamed in April 2019 and displays Coventry’s inaugural official city flag on cab ends. | |
| 390042 | The nameplate "City of Bangor/Dinas Bangor" was transferred to unit 221116 Super Voyager. | ||
| 390044 | Royal Scot | Formerly "Virgin Lionheart". Attempted a London-Glasgow speed record; achieved fastest Class 390 time despite missing the target by 21 seconds. | |
| 390045 | "Birmingham Pride" | Previously "Virgin Valiant", "101 Squadron", and "Virgin Pride". Features rainbow branding promoting inclusivity. | |
| "Flying Scouseman"
Formerly "Virgin Harrier". Renamed following a Liverpool Echo naming contest (2017). |
|||
| 390049 | Previously known as "Virgin Express". | ||
| 390155 | "Railway Benefit Fund" | Formerly "X-Men: Days of Future Past". Renamed in April 2021 to support railway charity fundraising by Avanti West Coast. | |
| 390156 | "Pride and Prosperity" | ||
| 390157 | "Chad Varah" |
Additional resources
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