Alstom Extends UK Train Maintenance Contract for 15 Years in £800 Million Deal
Key Facts
Alstom announced on 15 October 2026 that it had signed a 15-year extension to its train services agreement with Greater Anglia, worth about £800 million, or €947 million. The contract covers maintenance of 133 Class 720 Aventra electric trains, with Alstom set to maintain the fleet through the early 2040s. The agreement continues services for an existing fleet; it is not a new train order. Alstom said the deal supports about 100 jobs at the company. It also extends its cooperation with the train operator on long-term maintenance work.
The scope includes all planned maintenance activities, including major overhauls, as well as unplanned maintenance, fault repairs, materials supply and reliability improvement initiatives. The work will be carried out at Greater Anglia’s Seven Kings depot. Each train in the covered fleet consists of five cars, according to Alstom’s announcement. Greater Anglia says the Class 720 trains were designed for high-density commuter routes and operate in five- or 10-car formations. The contract therefore combines routine maintenance with the handling of faults that arise in service.
Alstom said the Class 720 trains have recently recorded more than 40,000 miles per technical incident, exceeding contractual requirements. In 2024, the trains received a Silver Spanner award after year-on-year reliability improved by 98.4%, according to the company. Alstom cited these results in the context of the maintenance agreement extension, which includes reliability improvement initiatives. Alstom’s UK and Ireland Services Director said: "We are pleased to extend our partnership with Greater Anglia through this long-term maintenance agreement." The company described the agreement as a framework for cooperation on fleet performance, reliability and passenger experience.
The trains are owned and financed by Angel Trains and were built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works, according to Alstom. Greater Anglia says the Class 720 trains are equipped with air conditioning, USB points, power sockets, free high-speed Wi-Fi and improved accessibility features. The company also said the regenerative braking system returns energy to the electricity supply network instead of dissipating it as heat. Greater Anglia services transferred to public ownership on 12 October 2025, under the UK Department for Transport’s programme. The government says Great British Railways will bring rail infrastructure and train management under one body, with a stated focus on service and value for taxpayers.
The agreement, according to Alstom, lays the groundwork for a long-term framework bringing together the company, Greater Anglia and Great British Railways in the future to work on performance, reliability and passenger experience. The UK Department for Transport says the new body is expected to begin operating about 12 months after the Railways Bill receives royal assent. The bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 5 November 2025, while the government said its review in the House of Lords is ongoing. Alstom is scheduled to record the contract order in the third quarter of financial year 2026/27. In the market, the company’s shares closed at €15.96 on the Paris Stock Exchange on 15 October, the day the deal was announced, down 1.05% for the day, according to historical share data; EL7 data recorded a close at 16.10 on 23 October.