Virgin Trains to Receive a New 11 Car Class 390 (“Pendo 55”)

The latest member of The Class 390 “Pendolino” fleet arrived on Wednesday November 16 after being delivered from Italy via the Channel Tunnel.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Trains Take Delivery of a Second 11 Car “Pendolino”

The unit, 390055, moved on Wednesday Morning November 16, from the Channel Tunnel Railfreight Terminal of Dollands Moor, in Kent, to the Virgin Trains Intercity Depot of Edge Hill, on the outskirts of Liverpool.

The train is 11 coaches long, two coaches greater than the length of the current fleet, which only have five standard and four first class coaches. This is part of a bid to improve seating capacity on the now bursting West Coast Main Line.

The order is also part of a move to replace the unit 390033, which was involved in the tragic Grayrigg derailment (the cause of which has been announced recently).

As part of the ongoing project to improve capacity on the West Coast Main Line, Virgin Trains will increase 31 of the present fleet of trains to 11 car operation. Also, 390056 and 390057 will be delivered, meaning a total fleet of 56 units.

390054, which is in operation as a 9 car set until the platform lengthening works at many stations are complete, was delivered in December of last year by Colas Rail. This movement will also be provided by Colas Rail.

A Coals Rail Class 66 Locomotive No. 66744 hauled 390055 as train 6X39, departing from the Dollands Moor complex at 05:37. By 07:25, the train was at Bromley, and at Kensington Olympia at 07:59. The train will use the West Coast Main Line to Acton Bridge, passing Milton Keynes at 09:17, Rugby at 10:35 and Stafford at 11:44. It will arrive at Edge Hill at 13:29.

External Links

• Watch Online
• Virgin Trains