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• Refresh and maintenance work by Alstom will support FirstGroup’s new intercity service between central and southern Scotland and London;
• Contract supports 50 roles across Alstom sites in Cheshire and Staffordshire.
This comes ahead of open access passenger services being launched between Stirling and London under FirstGroup’s Lumo brand.
The contract comprises two key components which includes a Train Services Agreement (TSA) with FirstGroup valued at approximately £40 million (€47.5 million) to be delivered at Alstom’s Central Rivers facility. From here, Alstom will maintain, overhaul, service and clean the five trains over the next five years.
In addition, the contract includes a fleet modernisation programme with Eversholt Rail worth around £10 million (almost €12 million) which will be carried out at Alstom’s Widnes site. The refresh involves installation of new, ergonomically designed seating, upgraded passenger Wi-Fi for improved onboard connectivity and a full exterior repaint to align with Lumo’s branding (lumo.co.uk).
The modernisation also includes new CCTV systems and Intelligent Engine Start-Stop (IESS) technology, which automatically shuts down and restarts the train’s engine when stationary improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.
“This partnership marks a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering high-performance, customer-focused rail services across the UK. By combining Alstom’s deep technical expertise with the operational excellence of FirstGroup and Eversholt Rail, we’re ensuring that fare-paying passengers benefit from a modern, reliable and comfortable travel experience between Stirling and London. The investment in both refurbishment and long-term support reflects our shared ambition to drive innovation and sustainability in rail transport,” said Peter Broadley, Commercial Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.
Alstom’s Central Rivers depot in Burton upon Trent is a purpose built train maintenance facility, which includes a state-of-the-art double-head lathe, nine maintenance roads and two lifting roads. The Staffordshire site also offers heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) repair and gassing capabilities, an engine repair bay, an automated vehicle inspection system (AVIS) fuelling and controlled emission toilet (CET) facilities, and an automatic intelligent train wash. Central Rivers can stable up to 37 trains, with overnight servicing of up to 26 trains.
Meanwhile, the Alstom Transport Technology Centre in Widnes is the UK’s largest and most sophisticated centre for train modernisation. Opened in 2017, its vast size and close embrace of digital principles makes the Cheshire facility ideal for work on intercity trains. The contract with FirstGroup (firstgroupplc.com) and Eversholt (eversholtrail.co.uk) will support 50 roles across the two sites, alongside many more through Alstom’s UK supply chain.
Built by Alstom as part of the Voyager family and previously operated by East Midlands Railway as Meridian trains the five units are scheduled to re-enter service with Lumo next year, serving passengers between central and southern Scotland and London Euston.
“We are pleased to work with Eversholt Rail and Alstom on the rolling stock element of our new service between London and Stirling. This new route is another important step towards rolling out Lumo as a nationwide operator and growing our open access capacity, a key priority for FirstGroup. Our investment and capabilities in open access rail have delivered reliable, value for money services, grown rail demand and helped to spur economic growth and connect communities. We look forward to doing the same on our new services,” said Graham Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer at FirstGroup.
Stations served will include Stirling, Larbert, Greenfaulds (serving Cumbernauld) Whifflet (serving Coatbridge) Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Nuneaton, Milton Keynes and London Euston. Of these stations, Whifflet, Greenfaulds and Larbert will have their first direct services to London.
Open access rail operators are set up with solely private investment and take full commercial risk and opportunity. The benefits of the successful open access model, recognised by government and the independent regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) include connecting under-served places, helping to drive economic growth and providing additional capacity on core routes which can push a modal shift away from carbon-intensive travel.
“Eversholt Rail are pleased to be part of this tri-partite collaborative project with FirstGroup and Alstom and we are looking forward to seeing what potential opportunities this new open access service can bring. Alstom’s on-going involvement with the Class 222 fleet as the original equipment manufacturer will cement it’s pedigree as a high-quality intercity train. The upgraded features will enhance the passenger experience for the journey between London and Stirling,” said Paul Sutherland, Client Services Director at Eversholt Rail.
Alstom’s FlexCare™ portfolio of solutions take rail assets to the next level with tailored and flexible services for every stage of their lifecycle. From train operations and maintenance to parts supply, overhauls and modernisation, Alstom supports asset owners in achieving the highest fleet performance. Alstom maintains over 35,500 vehicles worldwide and is a trusted partner for servicing both Alstom and non-Alstom rail assets.
Alstom™ and FlexCare Perform™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.
About Alstom
Alstom (alstom.com) commits to contribute to a low carbon future by developing and promoting innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that people enjoy riding. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, Alstom offers its diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. With its presence in 64 countries and a talent base of over 84,700 people from 184 nationalities, the company focuses its design, innovation, and project management skills to where mobility solutions are needed most. Listed in France, Alstom generated revenues of €17.6 billion for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2024.
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ben.goodwin[.]alstomgroup.com 
