Alstom Welcomes Passenger Service to Widnes Modernisation Facility

Alstom’s Widnes modernisation facility has welcomed its very first passenger service with the arrival of The Industria Ditat, a UK Railtours charter.

Accompanied by GB Railfreight locomotives 57303 and 60087, the train arrived as 1z15 at Widnes this past Saturday (06 September), and was welcomed by Mark McGrath and Tony Whitehead from Alstom’s Central Operations team.

The train remained on site for just under an hour before departing through Ditton Sidings toward Ditton East Junction.

Alstom’s facility in Widnes was opened in 2017, and serves as the UK’s largest centre for train modernisation. Recent projects carried out at the site include a 117 million GBP refurbishment programme of Avanti West Coast’s Class 390 Pendolino trains, as well as a 25 million GBP renewal of South Western Railway’s Class 458 fleet.

John Clerk, Widnes Head of Operations and Parts at Alstom, said:

Welcoming our first-ever passenger service to Widnes was a proud moment for the entire team based here. The visit by UK Railtours not only showcased the scale and capability of our Transport Technology Centre, but it also celebrated the passion and heritage that drive our work every day.

Seeing rail enthusiasts engage with our site from the train was a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come and the exciting journey ahead.

Once its time at Alstom’s Transport Technology Centre was complete, The Industria Ditat continued towards its final destination, Glan Conwy Freight Depot via Llandudno Junction, before returning to Watford Junction along the West Coast Main Line.

Instead of pay an access fee, UK Railtours made a donation to Alstom Transport Technology Centre’s chosen charities – Halton Haven Hospice and Widnes Foodbank.

Liz Morris, Managing Director at UK Railtours, said:

UK Railtours is tremendously grateful for all the assistance they received from Alstom to make this unique charter train possible. The professionalism of the Alstom team was second to none, and ensured the safe and smooth operation of the train. To be able to offer such unusual ‘rare track’ charter services – to fascinating industrial locations – to our enthusiast passengers is a great opportunity to enhance our diverse range of trains.

It also allowed them to see and experience the continued evolution of our proud railway history in this 200th anniversary year, which Alstom is such a major part of. UK Railtours wishes to extend a sincere thank you to the fantastic team at Alstom, and our friends at GB Railfreight and Eastern Rail Services, who collaborated to make this special day possible. We look forward to bringing more exciting exploration opportunities to our passengers in future and would be delighted to work with Alstom again!