Virgin Trains fleet improvements create 32 jobs in Wolverhampton

The work is to add 30 extra seats to 21 of the nine-car trains in the 56-train fleet that operates on the West Coast main line between Glasgow and Euston.

It is being carried out in two huge train sheds at Alstom's Midlands Traincare Centre off Jones Road, Oxley.

Work on the project costing £5.1 million began in March and so far four of the 125mph tilting trains have been completed and are back in service.

The other 17 will be completed by September.

Alongside the work, each first class carriage will be extended from 46 to 76 seats.

It will mean Virgin will be able to offer an extra 5,500 standard seats on its services each day.

Alongside the carriage improvement a further £2.1 million is being spent on the Create Amazing Trains refurbishment and enhancement project which includes putting in new sinks and hand dryers and new floors for the cab areas.

Virgin Trains had decided that the interior of the trains, which have been in service for more than a decade, needed improving to meet customer expectations.

Virgin Trains executive director of operations and projects Phil Bearpark said: "We have built up a really strong relationship with Alstom, who have maintained our fleet from brand new."

Oxley is one of five Alstom traincare centres that maintain the 56-strong Pendolino fleet.

Alstom has had the contract since 2001 and it runs to 2022.

The 180-strong workforce at Oxley includes 85 working on the maintenance in two shifts.

Alstom's regional and Intercity managing director Rob Whyte said that 32 extra had been taken on for the project from the local area.

The project had also put £1 million into local companies in the Alstom supply chain.

Work on the Create Amazing Trains enhancement for the 35 235-metre long 11-car Pendolinos will start in September and run through to the end of April at the rate of one train a week.

Virgin Trains franchise for the West Coast main line has been extended to March 2017 with the Government having the option to extend it by a year.

Mr Bearpark said it hoped the Government would exercise the option and it would be looking to win the franchise again when it was renewed and it was hoped the improvements to the trains would help with that.