Later Pendolino testing

Other test work - post upgrade

Following the long-awaited upgrade, by the summer of 2001 Alstom’s new Class 390 Pendolinos were commissioned and tested on the line. During the period between 2001 and early 2006 various Serco test trains, mainly Network Rail monitoring trains, also used the new facility.
The only other trains to use the facility were a few Alstom Junipers and 2 ex-Clacton EMU's used by Railtrack for the ERTMS development.

Alstom were never keen to allow competing manufacturers to access the Test Track and, despite efforts by the local councils, the facility faced an uncertain future.

On completion of the Pendolino programme and closure of their UK production facility, Alstom wound up their Test Track operation and handed back their leases for the Test Track and Asfordby Test Centre during December 2006.

Here are a few pictures of Pendolino testing and Serco running

Click on the image for a bigger picture

47812 is pictured hauling 390011 on the Widmerpool straight on 10th July 2002
Unknown

A Class 390 set heading south from Stanton Tunnel towards Widmerpool station in early April 2003.
Andrew Royle

Set No: 390 031 'City of Edinburgh' heads south away from Widmerpool station over the crossings at 115 MP which connect the two running lines in early September 2003.
Andrew Royle
Multiple working testing took place during the commissioning trials - here are 390011and 390012 face-to-face at Asfordby depot on 9th September 2003
Harry Bird

Class 57 'Thunderbird' at Asfordby depot on 18th March 2005 when it was the motive power for hauling the last Pendolino from the test track

Bob Dunn
57302 and two sister locos haul the penultimate Pendolino round the curve from Asfordby depot on 18th March 2005 on its way to Longsight depot
Bob Dunn

NMT at Old Dalby on 25th September 2005

Andrew Royle

NMT at Asfordby on 25th September 2005

Andrew Royle

NMT outside Asfordby Tunnel on 25th September 2005
Andrew Royle

Class 31 with Serco test train heads south past Plumtree on 25th January 2006

Laurence Sly

Back to Pendolino page

Back to Main Index

	47812 is pictured hauling 390011 on the Widmerpool straight on 10th July 2002 Unknown		A Class 390 set heading south from Stanton Tunnel towards Widmerpool station in early April 2003. Andrew Royle
	Set No: 390 031 'City of Edinburgh' heads south away from Widmerpool station over the crossings at 115 MP which connect the two running lines in early September 2003. Andrew Royle		Multiple working testing took place during the commissioning trials - here are 390011and 390012 face-to-face at Asfordby depot on 9th September 2003 Harry Bird
	Class 57 'Thunderbird' at Asfordby depot on 18th March 2005 when it was the motive power for hauling the last Pendolino from the test track Bob Dunn		57302 and two sister locos haul the penultimate Pendolino round the curve from Asfordby depot on 18th March 2005 on its way to Longsight depot Bob Dunn
	NMT at Old Dalby on 25th September 2005 Andrew Royle		NMT at Asfordby on 25th September 2005 Andrew Royle
	NMT outside Asfordby Tunnel on 25th September 2005 Andrew Royle		Class 31 with Serco test train heads south past Plumtree on 25th January 2006 Laurence Sly