ALSTOM rolls 53rd PENDOLINO train into production at
Washwood Heath

Sir Richard Branson, chairman of the Virgin group, joined the
workforce of ALSTOM Transport at Washwood Heath in Birmingham on
April 29 to witness the 53rd PENDOLINO train for Virgin, named
Mission Accomplished, entering production, thus signaling the
final phase of one of the UKs major new train projects
since privatization.

Sir Richard said: We are delighted with the quality of
the PENDOLINO trains that are coming off the production line. I
would congratulate the whole workforce at Washwood Heath on a
tremendous achievement.

Virgin Trains placed orders worth 1.8 billion euros for
the supply and maintenance of 53 PENDOLINO tilting trains for the
West Coast Main Line in 1999 and 2000, and by July 2004 all build
work on the fleet will have been completed.

The world-renowned PENDOLINO family of trains were designed in
ALSTOMs Savigliano, Italy, site. More than 1,300 PENDOLINO
cars have been sold and are in service in nine countries.

To date, ALSTOM has delivered 42 trains, and 11 are going
through its assembly facility at Washwood Heath or its Midlands
Test Center at Asfordby.

ALSTOMs Traincare Centers in Polmadie, Glasgow,
Longsight, Manchester, Oxley, Wolverhampton and Wembley maintain
the trains.

Peter Doolin, who manages the West Coast Main Line business at
ALSTOM, said: Today is a day of achievement and
pride.  Within the next few months, we will complete the
delivery of the 53 PENDOLINO trains for Virgin Trains West
Coast Main Line, which is a tremendous achievement for the ALSTOM
workforce. We are proud that we have produced a quality product,
a fleet of state-of-the-art trains that will provide a lasting
testimony to ALSTOM rail-transport expertise, and we are totally
committed to supporting it and our customer for its lifetime in
service.

With more than 35 product lines and a presence in more than
60 countries, ALSTOM's Transport sector offers complete products
and services for new rolling stock, signaling, and electrical and
mechanical infrastructure as well as maintenance and
rehabilitation services to four distinct types of customers:
urban transit authorities and operators; intercity passenger rail
operators and rolling stock owners; rail freight operators; and
intercity railway infrastructure owners. ALSTOM's Transport
sector, with sales of 5.1 billion euros in financial year
2002-2003, is among the world's leading suppliers to the railway
industry.

Press information:

Helen Connolly

Tel. +33 (0)1 41 66 91 43

helen.connolly@transport.alstom.com

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