Alstom Secures £24.5 Million GTR Contract Expansion to Revitalize Class 379 Fleet on Great Northern Routes

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Alstom, a global pioneer in smart and eco-friendly transport solutions, has finalized a £24.5 million contract amendment with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to revitalize 30 Class 379 trains. This expansion of their existing Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement (TSSSA) strengthens Alstom’s role in optimizing the UK’s rail services.

The Class 379 Electrostar fleet, which Porterbrook acquired from Akiem in March 2024, will be reinstated on GTR’s Great Northern network, linking London King’s Cross with Cambridge, Peterborough, and King’s Lynn. Alstom is delivering specialized engineering expertise and on-board technical support to accelerate the fleet’s return, reflecting renewed reliance on rail travel and the commitment to dependable transport services.

This fleet is also the first in GTR’s operations to implement Alstom’s cutting-edge HealthHub platform. This digital monitoring system provides live data transmission every 30 seconds, tracking over 200 critical parameters such as velocity, internal climate conditions, and GPS positioning. The predictive analytics assist in preemptive maintenance, minimizing service interruptions and maximizing operational efficiency.

The first Class 379 trains re-entered service on Monday, 10 February, with units 379002 and 379022 initially operating on Great Northern routes to and from Letchworth Garden City. This agreement expansion has also generated new job opportunities, supporting Alstom’s UK facilities, including its Crewe Works site, renowned as the nation’s center for bogie and traction motor overhaul. The facility, which has serviced over 20,000 bogies over the last decade, is now tasked with refurbishing the Class 379 bogies and upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for GTR.

Alstom’s original TSSSA with GTR, valued at approximately £256 million, was formalized in October 2022 and is aligned with the operator’s National Rail Contract. This agreement ensures continued maintenance support for the Derby-constructed Class 377 and Class 387 Electrostar fleets, servicing routes on Southern, Gatwick Express, and Great Northern into London Victoria and King’s Cross.

Having partnered with GTR for more than two decades, Alstom remains an essential service provider, with a specialized 35-member project team dedicated to maintenance. Its Brighton-based materials supply hub, alongside teams stationed at GTR’s primary depots in Battersea, Brighton, Hornsey, and Selhurst, ensures seamless operations for a fleet of 1,342 railcars across some of the UK’s most demanding commuter corridors.

Manufactured between 2010 and 2011 at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works, the 30 four-car Class 379 electric multiple units (EMUs) initially served passengers on routes connecting London Liverpool Street and King’s Lynn via Stansted Airport and Cambridge until 2022. Under GTR, these units will now be maintained at the Hornsey depot.

As a leader in rail solutions, Alstom delivers lifecycle support through its versatile FlexCare Perform maintenance services, offering tailored solutions from technical support and spare parts provision to comprehensive maintenance programs. With a global portfolio of over 35,500 serviced vehicles, Alstom continues to be a trusted partner for both Alstom and non-Alstom train maintenance, ensuring reliability and safety across the rail industry.