Avanti West Coast Rolls Out Massive Pendolino Bogie Overhaul
Avanti West Coast has hit a major milestone in its biggest-ever overhaul of train bogies for its busy Pendolino fleet. The first phase is done, with 770 bogies revamped so far at Alstom’s historic Crewe facility. This is no small feat: the project covers 1,148 bogies on the UK’s hardest-working trains.
From Moon Trips to Rail Triumphs
All 35 of Avanti’s 11-carriage Pendolinos have undergone a full bogie makeover after clocking over 750,000 miles — that’s like three trips to the moon and back. At Crewe, a skilled team works week in, week out, dismantling, stripping, cleaning, and rebuilding these crucial wheel frameworks and their parts, including traction motors. This £117 million heavy maintenance programme is vital to keep the fleet safe and reliable on the West Coast Main Line.
Railway Roots Run Deep in Crewe Team
The 35-strong squad at Crewe boasts generations of railway experience. Glenn Pearson, Karen Shaw, and their son’s partner Danni Knott handle final bogie inspections and testing, making sure everything’s fit to tackle demanding UK tracks.
“Working on the railway was a massive step change for us,” said Danni Knott. “You don’t realise the scale of the Pendolinos and their components until you work on them. We’re proud to be playing a part in the overhaul.”
Next Stop: Nine-Carriage Pendolinos
The project now moves to 21 nine-carriage Pendolinos, starting with train 390002, which recently arrived at Alstom’s Manchester Traincare Centre for bogie overhaul.
Stacy Thundercliffe, Avanti West Coast’s Head of Fleet and Engineering, praised the effort: “Our Pendolinos travel hundreds of thousands of miles every year, so it’s critical their heavy maintenance is completed to ensure they’re safe and reliable for our customers. We’re proud to be working with Alstom to overhaul the Pendolinos – especially with much of the work being done local to the West Coast Main Line.”
Peter Broadley, Alstom’s Managing Director for UK and Ireland Services, said: “This project showcases the outstanding expertise and dedication of our team in Crewe. By ensuring these trains perform at their best, we are boosting a more reliable and efficient rail service for passengers across the UK.”
This overhaul promises a smoother, safer ride on the West Coast Main Line for years to come, securing the Pendolino’s place as a UK rail powerhouse.
