Alstom and Hitachi have secured PAS 2080 global accreditation for the design of 54 very high-speed trains they are designing and building for High Speed 2.
Based on the Frecciarossa 1000 high-speed trains built by Hitachi and Alstom, they are claimed to be less carbon intensive through their lifecycles than any other comparable train in design, production or operation.
Detailed design work is optimising the weight of car body, wheelsets and cabling. It is also aimed to use as much recycled and recyclable material as possible. Attention is also being paid to aerodynamics, and it is claimed the aerodynamically smooth underside of the vehicles will be a world first.
The first trains are due to be completed in ‘around 2027’, with bodies and initial fitout taking place at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe facility, before further fitout and testing takes place at Alstom’s Derby Works. Entry to passenger service is expected between 2029 and 2033.
