THE end of Virgin Train West Coast franchise is just two months away, and an on-going repaint programme has led to the release of the first unbranded Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ set. 

The repaint work is part of the interim maintenance regime, which began in June 2017.

Set No. 390137 was released from Alstom’s Technology Centre, at Widnes, during September, with no external branding to associate it with a specific train operator. 

Prior to the repainted white colour, sets carried a full-height bodyside Virgin logo. Of the 56 sets to be repainted, by mid-September just seven still retained the original silver, red and white colour scheme, which at nearly 20 years old had begun to look dated. 

It is possible at least one or more of the plain sets will be branded in the new First Trenitalia livery, ready for the press launch on December 9.

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