Widnes location of our company greets its inaugural passenger service
UK Railtours Introduces Passenger Service at Widnes Modernization Facility
In a historic moment for the UK's rail industry, UK Railtours introduced the first-ever passenger service at the company's Widnes modernization classroom on September 6, 2025. The event marked not only the debut of passenger services at Widnes but also commemorated the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
The passenger service, known as The Industria Ditat, traversed the company's 13,000 m² Transport Technology Centre at Widnes. The train, led by GB Railfreight Class 60 No. 60087, remained on site for almost an hour, allowing passengers to observe and capture rare footage of the facility.
The Class 390 Pendolino train, including 390119 Progress, was refurbished at the Widnes classroom as part of an upgrade project for the fleet. The train was joined by Mark 2 and Mark 3 heritage carriages provided by Eastern Rail Services, all built at the company's Derby Litchurch Lane Works.
The Latin phrase 'Industria Ditat' translates as 'Industry Enriches' and is the motto of the Cheshire town of Widnes. John Clerk, Widnes Head of Operations and Parts at the company, expressed pride in welcoming the first-ever passenger service to Widnes.
Passengers on The Industria Ditat included Ken Davies, who recently retired as the company's Movements Manager. Davies' Class 08 (08721) and Avanti West Coast's Pendolino (390119 Progress) were on display at The Greatest Gathering, an event held at Derby Litchurch Lane Works in August, which welcomed 40,000 visitors and raised thousands for charity.
Liz Morris, Managing Director at UK Railtours, expressed gratitude for the company's assistance and professionalism. UK Railtours made a donation to Halton Haven Hospice and Widnes Foodbank in lieu of an access fee. Mark McGrath and Tony Whitehead from the company's Central Operations team welcomed the train at Widnes around 10:30am.
The facility, the UK's largest and most sophisticated centre for train modernization, opened in 2017. It has been involved in a £117 million refurbishment programme of Avanti West Coast's Class 390 Pendolino trains and a £25 million renewal of South Western Railway's Class 458 fleet.
The Industria Ditat continued towards Glan Conwy Freight Depot via Llandudno Junction, marking another significant milestone in the history of UK Railtours and the rail industry as a whole.
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