Great Western Railway (GWR) has exercised an option for a further seven bi-mode IEP trains.
Financed by Eversholt Rail, the new trains will add to the 57 Class 800 units ordered as part of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) and the separate order for 29 Class 802 trains placed last year.
The 802s will all be manufactured by Hitachi Rail Italy in Pistoia, Tuscany.
Mark Hopwood, managing director of Great Western Railway, said: “This complements the 86 brand new trains due to start operating across the GWR network next year.
“They give us greater flexibility in our fleet to deliver faster more frequent services and additional seats for customers, particularly while Network Rail completes the modernisation of the Great Western Main Line.”
Karen Boswell, managing director of Hitachi Rail Europe, said: “Hitachi is pleased GWR and Eversholt Rail Group have exercised one of the options they have with us to increase their fleet.
“This further strengthens our working relationship with two major customers. It is a further endorsement of our current work delivering modern, high-speed modern trains, connecting people and communities across the GWR network.”
Suppose that Hitachi does love the UK’s railways and are to build more trains for GWR & VTEC with 7 more new trains to be built for GWR and VTEC could also order some more new trains that Hitachi are building. RIP Class 43 HST rolling stocks used on the Great Western main line & East Coast main line and RIP Class 91 MK3 rolling stocks used on the East Coast main line.
The HSTs aren’t being completely withdrawn, some shorter sets will be retained by GWR, ScotRail, EMT and CrossCountry. Same with VTEC keeping a few Mk4 sets in the short term.
So the Class 43 HST’s are to stay even though they will be replaced by Class 800 & Class 801 IEPs and Class 91’s+Mk3/Mk4 are to stay even though are being replaced by Class 802 IEPs.
? Some (not all) of the HST rakes will be retained but the unneeded coaches will likely be scrapped. And VTEC has not ordered any additional AT300s (Class 802 is not IEP).
I kind of understand now. Thanks.
Why are they being built in Italy. Thought they had opened Newton Aycliffe to produce trains for the UK????
Because the Newton Aycliffe facility is operating at full capacity (Classes 800, 801, 385)