Hitachi has shipped the first pre-series Class 800 train set for the UK’s Intercity Express Programme (IEP) from its Kasado Works in Japan.
The train, which is set to arrive in the British Isles in March, is the first of three three test trains being manufactured for IEP. Shortly after arriving, the Class 800 will begin testing and driver training.
In 2012, Hitachi was awarded a £4.5 billion order for 92 new intercity trains for the Great Western and East Coast main lines. In July 2013, an option for an additional 30 sets was exercised.
The £5.8 billion scheme, which is being financed through a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme involving the British Department for Transport (DfT), will see Intercity 125 and 225 trains replaced with the new electric and bi-mode vehicles from 2017.
Of the 122 trains on order, only 12 will be manufactured at the Kasado Works. The remaining trains will be built at Hitachi’s UK factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
Alistair Dormer, Global chief executive of Hitachi Rail, said: “After unveiling this train in November last year, I am immensely proud that we today see the first shipment leave our factory in Kasado. Our engineering teams in the UK and Japan have been working exceptionally hard with all stakeholders to ensure that this train will be ready for testing in the UK from April this year onward.”
Hitachi are the best manufacturing companies in the world to build the IEP (Intercity Express Programme) Hybrid & Electric trains for East Coast Main Line and Great Western Main Line (First Great Western) to replace the 40 year old Class 43 HST 125mph diesel trains and 30 year old Class 91 East Coast intercity trains with 10-car Class 800 & 11-car 801 trains in the future once completed with the new hitachi depot in County Durham South of Newcastle to be built as a new facility for these trains.
A new investment for the UK’s railway industry.
But also what about building the IEP/Javelin trains to cascade the Class 90 intercity trains used on Abellio Greater Anglia London-Norwich main line route with 30x 10-car IEP/javelin EMU trains (Class 340) for Abellio GA intercity service.
My only “regret” is that, when British Rail Engineering Ltd (BREL) was offered for privatisation, no UK engineering companies were interested in acquiring the business. As a result, British train building, at places such as Derby and Crewe, fell into foreign hands. However, I agree that the opening of the Hitachi factory in County Durham and the establishment of their Global Rail Headquarters in London is indeed good for the UK economy.