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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hitachi wins UK ETCS order

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Network Rail has awarded Hitachi its first ETCS contract to install the European standard signalling technology on two Class 37 locomotives.

Hitachi will fit the West Coast Railways locomotives for operation on the Cambrian Line – the UK testbed for ERTMS.

The project is set to be completed in August 2015.

Hitachi’s ETCS system completed a programme of testing in a retrofitted Class 97 – one of Network Rail’s four yellow Class 37s.

By 2022, Network Rail aims to commission ERTMS on large sections of the Great Western main line (GWML) and East Coast main line (ECML).

In 2017, the first of 122 new Class 800 trains being built at Newton Aycliffe will begin service on the GWML. All Class 800/1 train sets will be fitted with Hitachi’s radio-based signalling system.

3 COMMENTS

  1. I may be sounding a little cynical but Is this a Government reward to Hitachi for:
    (a) establishing a train assembly facility at Newton Aycliffe and (b) announcing that their Global Rail Division will be moving to London?
    Will we soon hear that they will be opening another facility to manufacture signalling equipment? If so, Mr Cameron will undoubtedly be publically praising Hitachi in Parliament for bringing jobs and inward investment to the UK.

  2. It appears to be normal integration testing of one supplier’s equipment on the national network, derisking the IEP programme. Proactive approaches such as these should be applauded.

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