THE massive task to repaint Virgin’s fleet of 56 nine- and 11-car Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ EMUs has passed the halfway point at the beginning of November.
The work is being carried out at Alstom’s recently opened Widnes modernisation facility, each ‘Pendolino’ taking two weeks to strip down and repaint.
Minor repairs and defects to the exterior are carried out as part of the process, followed by painting, a layer at a time, to prevent corrosion and rust.
Advances in paint technology mean the re-painted trains are finished as well.
The final ‘Pendolino’ is due to be completed by December 2019.
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