Built between 2001 and 2004, and fully refurbished by 2024 in a two-year £117m project, Avanti's Pendolinos (Class 390s) are the workhorse of the West Coast Main Line. At the time of their introduction, these trains were revolutionary for successfully implementing active tilting to maximise speed (after the ill-fated Advanced Passenger Train project).
But what do these trains have to offer passengers? In this post, we'll dive into the facilities available on-board following their refurbishment.
Where will I find these trains?
Pendolinos work on Avanti West Coast's routes from Euston to:
- Manchester Piccadilly
- Birmingham New Street
- Blackpool North
- Glasgow Central
- Edinburgh
- Liverpool Lime Street
What's provided on board?
You'll see both 9-coach and 11-coach formations allocated to the services above.
On a 9-coach service, coaches A through F are standard class.
On an 11-coach service, coaches A through F, U and G are standard class. Coaches C, U and G are unreserved coaches - so if you don't have a reservation, these are the coaches to make a beeline for. Coach H is usually standard premium and coach J is either standard premium or first class (on weekdays, it'll be first class). Coach K is always first class, though it can be a bit cosy because the kitchen area takes up quite a bit of room.
If you use a wheelchair, there are wheelchair spaces in coaches B, D and J. All of these coaches have an accessible toilet. Bike spaces are in coach A in a dedicated area, with controlled access - note that reservations are mandatory.
Standard class
The refurbishment has seen the introduction of plug sockets (and USB-A sockets, though you'll be better off using the three-pin socket if you want to quickly charge your phone) to each airline seat in standard class. At tables, Avanti have introduced wireless charging. Tables continue to benefit from plug sockets.
The airline seats have new, laptop-friendly pull-out seat backs. You probably wouldn't want to use them for much larger than a 13-inch laptop, but they can be useful for getting work done in a pinch if the tables are occupied.
Standard Premium
Avanti don't offer Standard Premium on any of their other trains; it's a unique offering for the Pendolinos. Think first class, but without the catering offer or at-seat service. So, if you've already refuelled before the train and just want the leg-room, better seat and a decent table to get some work done, Standard Premium might just be the offering that makes the most sense for you. You won't get any of the first class "frills" like access to the lounges, but it can still make a lot of sense for business travel or less stressful leisure journeys.
The cost can be anywhere from £17.50-£35 on top of standard class. If you've got a railcard and book in advance, you'll pay even less to upgrade.
If you're using our new website, you can upgrade to Standard Premium by using the Change ticket selection option in the sidebar, and you'll then be able to upgrade from the standard class single to the Standard Premium ticket:
First Class
Avanti have one of the better first-class catering offers, and the Pendolino has a larger kitchen/galley area, which means that the dining options tend to be more extensive than the offering on the Super Voyager and Evero trains. Expect a proper cooked breakfast if you're travelling in the morning. For evening options on weekdays, you'll get a substantial meal: past options have included beef ragù, Vietnamese vegetable curry, chocolate mousse, Biscoff cheesecake.
On weekends, the evening food options are more limited. Many of the coaches that would be first class on a weekday are converted into Standard Premium.
To quench your thirst, you'll be treated to a range of complimentary hot, soft and alcoholic drinks throughout your journey.
Before booking in first class, we'd recommend checking Avanti's website to see what the current food & drink menus are like.
Aside from the complimentary food and drink, you'll have the same access to tables and better-quality seats as in Standard Premium. You'll also have access to the lounge facilities at the following stations before you board your train (or after you arrive):
- London Euston
- Birmingham International
- Birmingham New Street
- Crewe
- Glasgow Central
- Liverpool Lime Street
- Manchester Piccadilly
New technology
As part of the refurbishment programme, the Pendolinos have all been fitted with seat occupancy cameras which are capable of better monitoring seat usage.
A number of drinking water refill stations have also been installed for passengers to use, situated in coaches H and J:
Photographs in this article are reproduced courtesy of Avanti.