Alstom has secured a £24.5 million contract with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to bring 30 Class 379 trains back into service. These Electrostar trains, recently acquired by Porterbrook from Akiem, will operate on GTR’s Great Northern network, connecting London King’s Cross with Cambridge, Peterborough, and King’s Lynn.
The contract, a variation of the existing Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA) between Alstom and GTR, will see Alstom provide engineering and on-train technical support to ensure a swift return to service. The reactivation of these trains reflects growing confidence in rail travel and the industry’s focus on reliable passenger services.
A key feature of the reactivated fleet will be the use of Alstom’s HealthHub web-based platform. This system analyses real-time data from the trains, monitoring over 200 parameters every 30 seconds, from speed and temperature to GPS location. This allows for proactive maintenance and helps prevent future incidents.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to smart and sustainable rail solutions, Alstom is delighted to support the reactivation of the Class 379 fleet. This project exemplifies the importance of collaboration within the rail industry to enhance capacity and experience for the fare-paying passenger, while optimising the use of existing assets,” said Peter Broadley, Commercial Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.
The first trains (379002 and 379022) entered service on Monday, 10th February, initially operating on services to and from Letchworth Garden City. The contract is supporting new roles at Alstom sites, including its Crewe Works. This historic site, Alstom’s UK Centre of Excellence for Bogie and Traction Motor Overhaul, will overhaul the Class 379 bogies and HVAC units.
“These extra trains we have started to bring into service are a real demonstration of GTR working with partners across the rail industry to give passengers extra services and better journeys,” said Steve Lammin, Engineering Director at Govia Thameslink Railway.
The original TSSSA between Alstom and GTR, signed in October 2022 for approximately £256 million, covers the Class 377 and 387 Electrostar fleets operating on Southern, Gatwick Express, and Great Northern services.
“I’m delighted that more of our Electrostars are entering service with GTR. When we acquired the fleet from Akiem last year we were confident that they would be perfectly suited to GTR’s requirements, and it’s excellent to see them back out on the network to serve passengers for many more years to come,” said Stefan Rose, Chief Investment Officer at Porterbrook.
Alstom has a long-standing partnership with GTR, providing services for over 20 years. Teams from both organisations work across GTR’s four main depots (Battersea, Brighton, Hornsey, and Selhurst) to support a fleet of 1,342 cars.
The Class 379 EMUs, built by Alstom in Derby between 2010 and 2011, previously operated between London Liverpool Street and King’s Lynn. They will now operate from GTR’s Hornsey depot.
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