The agreement, valued at approximately £800 million, gives the Class 720 fleet long-term maintenance continuity as Greater Anglia moves towards becoming part of Great British Railways.
Alstom has signed a 15-year extension to its Train Services Agreement (TSA) with Greater Anglia for the operator’s Class 720 Aventra fleet, in a contract valued at approximately £800 million (€947 million).
Alstom said the agreement provides continuity for the fleet and a long-term framework for the company, Greater Anglia and future Great British Railways (GBR) to collaborate on performance, reliability and the passenger experience. The order will be booked in the third quarter of Alstom’s 2026/27 fiscal year.
Scope of the maintenance agreement
Alstom will continue to maintain Greater Anglia’s fleet of 133 five-car Class 720 electric multiple units (EMUs) at the operator’s Seven Kings Depot, supporting intensive commuter and regional services across the region. The fleet is financed and owned by Angel Trains and was built at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works.
The TSA covers all planned maintenance activities, including major overhauls, as well as unplanned maintenance, fault rectification and material supply. It also includes a programme of reliability growth initiatives and continued performance improvements aimed at maximising fleet availability and supporting Greater Anglia’s operational requirements. Alstom said the agreement supports around 100 roles at the company.
Steve Harvey, Services Director UK and Ireland at Alstom, said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Greater Anglia through this long-term maintenance agreement for the Alstom-built Class 720 fleet. These trains represent one of the most modern commuter fleets in the country, which are already delivering excellent levels of reliability and performance.”
This contract reflects the trust that Greater Anglia places in Alstom and demonstrates how the best whole-life outcomes are secured for passengers and taxpayers when owners, operators and manufacturers work in partnership for the long term.”
Reliability record of the Class 720 fleet
The Class 720 fleet was ordered in 2016 alongside the initial TSA, with vehicles entering service progressively over a five-year period. All 133 units are now operational across the Greater Anglia network, which is part of GBR Anglia.
According to Alstom, the trains have achieved more than 40,000 miles per technical incident (MTIN) in recent periods, significantly exceeding contractual requirements. In 2024, the fleet won a Silver Spanner at the Modern Railways Fourth Friday Club Golden Spanners Awards, recognising it as the most improved train of its type, with a 98.4% year-on-year improvement.
Martin Beable, Chief Operating Officer at GBR Anglia, said: “Greater Anglia is pleased to confirm this new 15-year maintenance agreement with Alstom for our fleet of Class 720 trains. We’re looking forward to working with Alstom and Angel Trains to build on the major improvements in service and reliability these new trains have already been delivering for our customers and communities.”
Aventra programme and Alstom’s UK services position
Alstom has produced 2,660 Aventra cars at its Derby factory since 2015, which the company described as the biggest train manufacturing programme in a generation. Aventra fleets operate for customers including c2c, Greater Anglia, South Western Railway, Transport for London (for the Elizabeth line and London Overground) and West Midlands Trains, and have delivered more than 18 billion passenger miles.
Alstom said the contract reinforces its position as a provider of long-term rolling stock services in the UK. Its FlexCare Perform maintenance services range from technical support with spares to fully outsourced maintenance, and the company maintains more than 36,000 vehicles worldwide, including both Alstom and non-Alstom rail assets.
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