Hitachi Plans to Manufacture Eco-Friendly Trains

Hitachi is planning to build a £70 million train factory in County Durham, UK, focusing on eco-friendly electric and ‘bi-mode’ trains under the government’s £4. 5 billion Hitachi Rail Europe’s Intercity Express Programme, aiming to replace diesel-powered Intercity 125 models with lighter, more efficient Super Express trains.

March 31, 2011 8:49 am | Last Update: August 19, 2015 8:51 am

Hitachi is considering a plan to build eco-friendly trains in County Durham, UK.

Hitachi has chosen Newton Aycliffe from more than 40 UK locations for its proposed £70m train factory. As part of the UK government’s £4.5bn Hitachi Rail Europe’s Intercity Express Programme, the plant will manufacture electric and ‘bi-mode’ trains, which can switch from electric to diesel power.

The new Super Express trains will replace old Intercity 125 model trains that run on diesel. They will be assembled at a new 460,000ft² plant in County Durham.

Construction of the plant will start next year; production of the Super Express Train will begin in 2015, with the first trains expected to be delivered in 2016.

The Hitachi Super Express trains will be used on the East Coast Main Line and the London – South Wales Great Western Main Lines.
The trains will be lighter and will make little damage to tracks, requiring less replacement of tracks.

TAGS: eco friendly trains, hitachi railway news, Hitachi Super Express, Hitachi Super Express trains

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