As it reaches the end of the Intercity Express Programme, Hitachi Rail’s Head of UK & Ireland JIM BREWIN talks to PHILIP SHERRATT about the company’s future plans
Hitachi is now a major player on the UK rail scene. Just five years ago, the company had only 29 trains operating in the UK – its Class 395 Javelin fleet on Southeastern high-speed services.
Now that figure is approaching 300, and Hitachi is at a landmark moment as it completes the Intercity Express Programme build, comprising new trains for Great Western Railway and LNER. Of the 122 trains procured by Government for the two operators, by early August only four nine-class Class 801 Azumas for LNER remained to be delivered. Add to that the high-performing Class 385 EMUs with ScotRail and Class 802s for GWR, TransPennine Express and Hull Trains, and Hitachi’s rolling stock now operates across the UK from the Scottish Highlands to Cornwall.
Hitachi Rail’s Head of UK & Ireland Jim Brewin describes this as completing the second phase of the company’s journey within the UK. The next phase comprises orders for FirstGroup’s East Coast Trains open access operation, Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railway, all of which will be built at the…
