Hitachi Rail has reached an agreement for a procurement and leasing contract of 14 sets, totaling 70 carriages, with the UK’s FirstGroup and Angel Trains.
The delivered vehicles will be Class 800 series intercity express trains, either for electric routes or equipped with batteries or diesel engines for non-electrified sections. The project cost for ten years is approximately 961 billion yen.
FirstGroup will use them not only for the London to Carmarthen station route but also for additional trains for LUMO and Hull Trains. Delivery will start from 2027, with maintenance performed at Hitachi Rail vehicle bases across the UK.
Additionally, if FirstGroup’s application for new route open access is approved, there will be a potential order for an additional 13 sets. These trains are planned to be deployed on various routes such as London to Newton-le-Willows to Rochdale, Eccles to Manchester Victoria, Glasgow to Edinburgh, London to Paignton, and London to Sheffield (via Retford and Worksop).
The UK’s Rail and Road Regulatory Authority provides an ‘open access model’, allowing private operators to supplement rail transport. This model aims to connect underserved areas, promote economic growth, and facilitate a modal shift from cars and airplanes to trains.
Notice
This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
