A Hitachi test train for Great Western Railway’s (GWR) Devon and Cornwall route to London has left Japan bound for the UK.
The Class 802 left the Port of Kobe, Japan, on April 26 and is due to arrive at the Port of Southampton in June.
It is the latest milestone in the rolling out of a new fleet of Intercity Express Trains, which are currently being built at Hitachi’s plant in Pistoia, Italy, and are due to enter passenger service next summer (2018).
In total three test trains will be used ahead of the trains entering passenger service.
The Class 800 fleet is already being tested in the UK and is due to enter service later this year (2017) on the London to Wales route.
This fleet is being built at Hitachi’s manufacturing facility at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
