Alstom secures a contract extension from TransPennine Express to maintain Class 397 fleet in the United Kingdom

Alstom’s Manchester Traincare Centre at Longsight can accommodate almost 300 rail vehicles at one time – making it one of the biggest of its kind in the UK – and is the home depot for the Nova 2s. Meanwhile, Alstom’s Glasgow Traincare Centre at Polmadie typically welcomes 17 trains per day, including TransPennine Express Class 397 units.

“Securing this contract extension is a testament to the quality of our Services portfolio and the strong partnership we have developed with TransPennine Express,” said Peter Broadley, Services Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.

He added: “We are committed to ensuring the continued reliability and performance of the Nova 2 fleet, supporting both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. The contract extension is also great news for our dedicated teams in Manchester and Glasgow, who provide a round-the-clock service, seven days a week, ensuring fare-paying passengers enjoy safe, comfortable and dependable journeys along the West Coast Main Line.”     

Built by CAF and owned by Eversholt Rail, the Class 397 units originally entered service in November 2019. They carry passengers on TransPennine North West services between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central via Preston.

“We are delighted to continue our strong partnership with Alstom and look forward to working with them to maintain the quality of one of our key fleets and to deliver further improvements,” said Chris Jackson, Managing Director at TransPennine Express.

He added: “Suppliers such as Alstom are vital in making sure we put our customers’ needs first, and we are committed to offering the best possible journey experience when people choose to travel with us.”

Since entering passenger service, TransPennine Express’ Class 397 fleet has travelled more than eight million miles – an average of 688,000 miles per unit. Under the contract extension, Alstom will continue to maintain the fleet until at least December 2025.

Alstom is the market leader in rail services, supporting customers over the entire asset lifecycle with the broadest portfolio of services solutions. Alstom’s FlexCare Perform maintenance services are tailored to customer needs and operational requirements, from technical support with spares to fully outsourced maintenance solutions. Alstom maintains over 35,500 vehicles worldwide and is a trusted partner for servicing both Alstom and non-Alstom rail assets. 

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