THE first Virgin Pendolino train re-painted at a new £21 million technology rail hub in Widnes is back on the tracks.

The new look livery is named ‘flowing silk’ and builds on the iconic Virgin brand, adding curves, shapes and dynamism, with the flow across the train taking its main inspiration from the natural world, the wind.

Rail engineer Alstom, original builders of the train, won a £23.8m contract to repaint the entire 56-strong fleet by December 2019.

The project secured 80 jobs and created five apprenticeships.

Peter Broadley, executive director for customer, operations and safety on the west coast, said: “The Pendolino is widely regarded as the UK’s hardest working train and has clocked up over 300 million miles in the last 15 years.

“They have been given a fresh lick of paint and will continue to speed customers along the west coast mainline in record time.”

Nick Crossfield, managing director, Alstom UK & Ireland, said: “It is a proud day for us seeing the first of the iconic Pendolino fleet successfully repainted and out on the network again.

“This is the first work we have completed at our important new Widnes modernisation facility.

“Not only is it on time and on budget, I am equally proud of the fact we employed 80 people locally, including five new apprentices, to deliver this beautiful new paint job.

“We look forward to working with Virgin Trains to complete the painting of the rest of their hard working fleet.”