British Rail Class 390

British Rail Class 390
Vanmanyo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Class 390 Pendolino
Caption	11-car Class 390 at Crewe in 2019
Builder	Alstom (formerly Fiat Ferroviaria)
Builddate	1999–2004
Totalproduction	53 units (490 vehicles)
Formation	7-car or 9-car sets (standard 9/11/11-car operations after reformation)
Operator	Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains)
Lines	West Coast Main Line
Gauge	1,435 mm (standard gauge)
Electricsystem	25 kV AC overhead
Collectionmethod	Pantograph (rail)
Maxspeed	125 mph (201 km/h) (operational)
Traction	Jacobs bogie articulated

British Rail Class 390

The Class 390 Pendolino is an electric multiple unit built by Alstom (with technology from Fiat Ferroviaria) for express passenger services on the West Coast Main Line. Introduced in the early 2000s for Virgin Trains and now operated by Avanti West Coast, the fleet introduced tilting technology to increase cornering speeds and reduce journey times on routes linking London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street and Glasgow Central.

Design and construction

The design derives from the Pendolino family developed by Fiat Ferroviaria and shares lineage with trains used by Trenitalia and CP (Comboios de Portugal). Major design goals included higher line speeds on the West Coast Main Line infrastructure and improved ride quality for long-distance services between London and major cities such as Manchester and Glasgow. Construction involved Alstom’s factories, incorporating an aluminium bodyshell, articulated Jacobs bogie arrangements similar to those on ETR 470 and other European high-speed stock, and a tilting mechanism licensed from Fiat Ferroviaria. The fleet was manufactured during 1999–2004 with final assembly and testing at Crewe Works and acceptance trials over routes including Crewe–Carstairs.

Technical specifications

Each set originally comprised nine cars (later reformed into varying lengths), with traction equipment delivering distributed power via powered bogies under multiple vehicles. The electrical system uses 25 kV AC collection through a pantograph (rail) and solid-state traction converters broadly comparable to systems used on Eurostar and Thalys stock. The tilting mechanism permits up to 8° of active tilt to permit higher line speeds through curves on the West Coast Main Line, reducing lateral forces felt by passengers analogous to the systems on ETR 460 and ETR 470. Bogie design and suspension were influenced by research from British Rail Research and rolling stock standards overseen by the Office of Rail and Road. Safety systems included Train Protection & Warning System and later compatibility work with ERTMS/ETCS equipment for future upgrades. The interiors originally featured first and standard class salons, air conditioning, and on-board systems adapted to Rail Safety and Standards Board guidance.

Service history

The Class 390 entered passenger service with Virgin Trains following acceptance in the early 2000s, beginning scheduled services from London Euston on the West Coast Main Line and progressively replacing loco-hauled sets and older multiple units used on intercity routes to Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow Central. Timetabling changes implemented by Network Rail and franchise arrangements with the Department for Transport influenced deployment patterns. The fleet played a central role in upgraded high-speed timetables and marketing by Virgin Group during the 2000s and continued under the West Coast Partnership and Avanti West Coast franchises.

Operations and incidents

Operational performance included widespread commercial success but also notable incidents. Early acceptance trials encountered teething problems similar to other advanced fleets, including reliability issues that required remedial works coordinated with Railtrack and later Network Rail. Several derailments and collisions on the West Coast Main Line involved other rolling stock and infrastructure rather than fundamental tilting failures, but emergency responses involved coordination with British Transport Police and Office of Rail and Road investigations. Notable operational events include disruption during severe weather impacting routes through Cumbria and emergency engineering works after incidents near junctions such as Oxenholme and Crewe. Fleet-wide safety upgrades followed regulatory enquiries and recommendations from bodies including the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.

Refurbishment and upgrades

Throughout their service life the sets underwent phased refurbishments covering interiors, passenger information systems, and technical upgrades. Refits addressed seating layouts, accessibility improvements in line with the Equality Act 2010 provisions as applied in rail franchising specifications, installation of modern Passenger Information Systems and power socket provision comparable to later Intercity Express Programme standards. Mechanical and software overhauls improved reliability of the tilt control and traction electronics; compatibility work prepared units for ETCS deployment on the WCML modernisation programme. Cosmetic rebranding occurred during transitions from Virgin Trains livery to Avanti West Coast branding.

Fleet details and numbering

Fifty-three sets were built, originally numbered in the departmental and TOPS series used across UK mainline fleets and allocated to long-distance duties from depots such as Crewe and Edge Hill. Sets have been reformed into different vehicle counts (7-car, 9-car, 11-car formations) to match demand and platform lengths at stations like London Euston and Birmingham New Street. Maintenance records and vehicle diagrams conform to standards issued by RSSB and are managed under depot regimes overseen by franchise holders including Virgin Trains and Avanti West Coast. Ongoing withdrawals, intermediate overhauls and the introduction of alternative rolling stock under the West Coast Partnership franchise have influenced long-term fleet disposition.

Category:High-speed trains of the United Kingdom Category:Alstom multiple units