Hitachi will build 19 five-car bi-mode trains for First TransPennine Express (FTPE). The trains will enter traffic from 2019.
The majority will be assembled at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe facility and are capable of 140mph pending suitable signalling. Maintenance will be carried out by Hitachi at Craigentinny and Doncaster Carr, with overnight stabling and servicing at Edge Hill, Heaton and York.
The Hitachi trains will be from the AT300 family, as per the Class 802s for Great Western Railway. They are being financed by Angel Trains, which will lease them to FTPE. Each FTPE AT300 will have 161 more seats than the existing three-car Class 185s.
The are the first of two new fleets to be signed for by FTPE, with a further 25 trains still to be ordered. No details have been finalised for them, but FTPE expects the additional 25 new trains to be in traffic in 2018.
TransPennine Express Managing Director Designate Leo Goodwin said: “The signing of this contract is the first major step for the new franchise.
“These trains will be able to run at speeds of 125 miles per hour but they also have the capability of running at 140mph if the network allows for it in the future.”
Karen Boswell, Managing Director of Hitachi Rail Europe said: “Building on our contracts to deliver new IEP trains for the East Coast and Great Western Main Lines, commuter trains for Scotland, inter-city trains from London to Devon and Cornwall, as well as our existing High-Speed 1 Javelin services operating from London and Kent, Hitachi is on track to transform rail travel for millions of fare-paying customers throughout the UK.”
Angel Trains Chief Executive Malcolm Brown added: “Passengers will be able to travel seamlessly across the TransPennine network, regardless of whether the route is electrified.
“We have already invested over £3.8 billion in the UK rail industry and, working with our partners in the industry, we look forward to continuing to make further significant investments in rolling stock in future.”
FTPE will retain around half of its current Class 185 trains.
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Andrewjgwilt1989 - 01/04/2016 08:21
So in fact Hitachi will be building the IEP Electric and Bi-Mode trains not just for Great Western Railway, Virgin Trains East Coast and Hull Trains but also to build the new IEP trains for Transpennine Express aswell. Class 800 and Class 801 for Great Western Railway and Virgin Trains East Coast. Class 802 for Great Western Railway, Hull Trains and Transpennine Express. Well at least that the Class 43's MK3 HST's and Class 91's MK4 Intercity fleet will soon be long gone in 4-5 years time on the Great Western Main Line and East Coast Main Line. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_800 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_801 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_802
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BigTone - 01/04/2016 14:22
Not quite Andrew. VTEC is keeping 8 slightly shortened Class 91 sets for a proposed Kings X to Edinburgh limited stop service.
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Andrewjgwilt1989 - 02/04/2016 02:27
Right. So the Class 91 rolling stocks will still be kept but only on limited service.
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BigTone - 04/04/2016 21:53
As an aside, a few 5 coach 802s would help out East Midland Trains. Firstly on the mainline as the electrification progresses then after that is completed. They can accelerate the Liverpool - Norwich service. Leicester - Lincoln and at summer weekends would be very handy on Skegness services
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FrankH - 06/04/2016 01:00
Are these 19 for the liverpool/manchester- north east then scotland destinations? The Liverpool/Manchester via WCML to Scotland is electrified now so the remaining 25 I guess will be all electric versions to give capacity for the proposed doubling of the service frequency to half hourly. One very good thing is that as they won't tilt (I hope) there will be more space inside the vehicles.
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BigTone - 06/04/2016 11:08
Sure is Frank. The Northern Transpennine route electrification will not be completed before 2022, also there are some destinations on the East side that are not down to be wired (Scarborough for one). Yes the rest will be straight electric (Not forced to be from Hitachi )
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FrankH - 06/04/2016 17:19
1 idea for the future when the trans pennine route is electrified. Liverpool/Manchester - via WCML - Glasgow - Edinburgh - via ECML - Manchester/Liverpool, and vice versa, journey time 6-7 hours. As long as the bi mode and the all electric units will couple and can be driven from either type cab a lot of new journeys are possible using the above route as an axis.
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