Alstom and c2c have signed an £8.8m contract that will see its Class 357 fleet repaired and repainted.
The 74 four-car units were originally built at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane site in Derby between 1999 and 2002.
The repair work will include huck bolt cover repairs as well as repairs for body end corrosion, side vent corrosion, sole bar corrosion, and roof corrosion, before the fleet is repainted.
Alstom will carry out the work at their Ilford Depot over a 2 year period.
The new contract will support up to 25 new jobs at the Ilford site, which already employs 120 people.
“We’re thrilled to embark on this new journey with c2c, rejuvenating the Class 357 fleet and enhancing the travel experience for fare-paying passengers. This contract underscores Alstom’s commitment to sustainable mobility and British craftsmanship, exemplified by our dedicated team at the Ilford depot”
“Through this contract, we not only renew the vitality of the Class 357 fleet but also fortify local economies by fostering job creation at our Ilford depot and engaging the wider UK supply chain, including SMEs.”
Peter Broadley, Service Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom
“Each year c2c continues to achieve some of the best punctuality and reliability figures of any train operator in the country, and it is no coincidence that our fleet of 357 trains are behind these excellent results,”
“As well as maintaining and servicing our trains so they are ready to serve the tens of thousands of customers they carry each day, our dedicated engineering and presentation teams work around the clock to make sure they are always clean and in great condition both inside and out.
“The forthcoming paint and refurbishment work – carried out by our partners at Alstom – will see all of our 74 Class 357 trains refreshed with the distinctive look and feel of our new Class 720 trains.
“We are excited at the prospect of this work starting and can’t wait to get the refreshed trains back out on our route.”
Rob Mullen, Managing Director at c2c
Responses
c2c will not be getting rid of the Class 357s and its nice to see them getting the treatment they desperately need and a repaint. I have been on them and they are so reliable since they first came into service in 1999 and 2000. Very nice trains Class 357s are.
At least that the Class 357s aren’t going to be replaced. c2c rather keep the Class 357s and repaint them in new colours to match with the Class 720/6s. And also to sort out Stanford-le-Hope and Basildon stations that need upgrading.
if these trains were built in Derby why has Derby not been given some of the repair work instead of it going all to Ilford.
Because Derby is set up as a new build facility and Ilford ia a heavy maintenance & refurbishment facility….a bit like sending your car back to manufacturer for repair and respray.
These were the 357s which c2c spent years implying were going to be replaced wholesale until they finally (and quietly) acknowledged that actually they would only be leasing a small number of 720s and that the 357s would have to carry on beyond their intended lifespan.
You do realise that, as a general rule, trains are intended to have a 40 year lifespan at least.
The Class 357s were originally manufactured by AdTranz/Bombardier between 1999-2002. But it’s good to see Alstom working with c2c to maintain and repaint the Class 357 Electrostar fleets. As the Class 357s do need a lot of improvements. I also do remember when these trains were painted in blue livery with pink doors before it was repainted in white and blue.