On 9 October 2026 Alstom and Virgin announced agreements to support the development of future cross-Channel high-speed rail services planned to commence from 2030. The agreements cover the supply of 12 Avelia Stream high-speed trains together with long-term maintenance services, with booking expected upon regulatory approval and financial close. Alstom said the trains will be designed and manufactured at its Savigliano, Italy facility and that maintenance activities will be delivered in the UK. Virgin said the partnership builds on its previous relationship with Alstom, references the former Class 390 Pendolino work, and projects that the plans will support more than 1,000 jobs across the UK and Europe and add millions of seats to the cross-Channel network.
According to Alstom, the Avelia Stream platform offers high-speed performance, energy efficiency, passenger comfort and operational flexibility, and Alstom will act as both train supplier and long-term fleet maintainer. The announcement follows Virgin revealing the livery for its future Avelia Stream fleet. Financial details, contract scope beyond the 12 trains, and timetable milestones beyond the 2030 service start are not publicly disclosed. The press release was published on Alstom’s website and is the primary source for these facts.
Lead
9 October 2026, global — Alstom and Virgin signed agreements intended to support the development of future cross-Channel high-speed rail services planned to commence from 2030. The agreements cover the supply of 12 Avelia Stream high-speed trains together with long-term maintenance services. Booking is expected upon regulatory approval and financial close.
Verified facts
Alstom announced on 9 October 2026 that it and Virgin have signed agreements covering the supply of 12 Avelia Stream high-speed trains and associated long-term maintenance services to support future cross-Channel services planned from 2030. The press release states that booking of the trains is conditional on regulatory approval and financial close. Alstom identified its Savigliano, Italy site as the design and manufacturing location for the trains and described the Savigliano site as a Global Centre for Excellence for High-Speed Rail. The press release states that maintenance activities will be delivered by Alstom in the UK. The announcement followed Virgin unveiling the livery intended for the future Avelia Stream fleet. The press release states that Virgin’s plans will support more than 1,000 jobs across the UK and Europe and add millions of seats to the cross-Channel network. Financial terms, detailed delivery schedule, specific contract values, and the identity of financiers or other contracting parties are not publicly disclosed.
Organizations and responsibilities
Alstom: Identified by the company as the train supplier and long-term fleet maintainer. Alstom said the Avelia Stream trains will be designed and manufactured at Alstom’s Savigliano, Italy facility. Alstom said maintenance activities will be delivered in the UK.
Virgin: Identified by the company as the operator/planner of the future cross-Channel high-speed services that are planned to commence from 2030 and as the counterparty to the agreements for 12 trains and maintenance services. Virgin disclosed the livery for the intended Avelia Stream fleet and stated expected employment and capacity impacts (supporting more than 1,000 jobs across the UK and Europe and adding millions of seats).
Other parties: Not publicly disclosed.
Operational and commercial context
Reported intent and timing: According to the press release, the agreements underpin Virgin’s ambition to expand international rail travel with services planned from 2030. Booking of the trains is subject to regulatory approval and financial close; no regulatory authorities, approval timelines, or financiers were named in the announcement.
Manufacturing and maintenance footprint: Alstom reported that the Savigliano site in Italy will design and manufacture the Avelia Stream trains and that maintenance will be provided in the UK. The release positions Savigliano as Alstom’s Global Centre for Excellence for High-Speed Rail and notes its long manufacturing history, but it does not disclose specific production volumes, timelines for manufacture, or where individual maintenance depots will be located in the UK.
Capacity and jobs: Virgin stated that the plans will support more than 1,000 jobs across the UK and Europe and add millions of seats to the cross-Channel network. The press release does not disclose how those job figures are calculated, the split by country, or the timing of job creation.
Technical and commercial details: Alstom described its Avelia Stream platform as combining high-speed performance, energy efficiency, passenger comfort and operational flexibility and presented itself as both supplier and maintainer for the fleet lifecycle. No technical specifications, vehicle configuration, modality for cross-border operation, or contract length for maintenance were disclosed.
Sources
https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2026/10/virgin-and-alstom-join-forces-support-growth-cross-channel-high-speed-rail — Alstom
Disclosure
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