Alstom’s Derby Factory Future Strengthened by £60m Refurbishment Contract

The future of Alstom’s production and maintenance facility in Derby, UK, has been further secured following the signing of a £60 million ($78 million) refurbishment contract with CrossCountry and leasing company Beacon Rail.

Under the agreement, Alstom’s Litchurch Lane facility will carry out a complete overhaul of the rail operator’s Voyager trains, encompassing a total of 312 rail cars across CrossCountry’s Class 220 Voyager fleet and Class 221 Super Voyager fleet.

Peter Broadley, Alstom’s Managing Director of Services for UK and Ireland, stated that the “iconic Alstom-built trains” would receive a comprehensive overhaul as part of some “well-deserved TLC” (tender loving care).

Broadley said: “Not only will the refurbishment delight fare-paying customers with increased levels of comfort and accessibility, but the overhaul programme will also support UK suppliers and skilled jobs across the country.”

This deal comes shortly after the factory was saved from closure following emergency talks between Alstom and the UK government, which led to a £370 million contract being signed with Transport for London (TfL) for the construction of 10 Aventra trains for London’s Elizabeth Line.

Alstom’s struggle to keep the factory open had been viewed by many as a troubling sign for the UK’s rail manufacturing industry, with the company at one point telling staff it had “run out of time” to secure a sustainable future for the site.

Now, the CrossCountry contract will extend the facility’s workload until 2027, with around 100 Alstom staff expected to work on the project. This boost in workload will ease the site’s reliance on the TfL contract.

The deal also strengthens the manufacturer’s relationship with CrossCountry and builds upon the eight-year extension it signed with the operator last year for their Train Services Agreement, which covers maintenance for the Voyager fleet at Alstom’s Central Rivers depot in Staffordshire.

The operator currently has 252 Voyager and Super Voyager rail cars and will add another 60 carriages, across 12 trains, to its fleet when they are released from Avanti West Coast’s services and transferred by Beacon Rail later this year.

CrossCountry’s new trains will join its existing fleet in receiving new tables, seats, and flooring, as well as on-board technology enhancements and a new livery.