Hitachi high speed Javelin train ready to ship to UK
Train manufacturer Hitachi Rail Systems has revealed that the first 6-car Class 395 unit needed to provide domestic rail services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link has been delivered on time to the shipping line ready for transportation to the UK.
The unit, which will eventually join the fleet of train operator Southeastern, has been successfully loaded on to a ship at Hitachi’s Kasado Factory in Japan, having completed extensive factory testing. Full static and dynamic tests have been carried out on the completed train, including system integration tests, signalling system, operational tests on the French TVM 430 signalling system supported by SNCF and dynamic traction and braking tests on the factory test track, which has been fitted with UK standard third rail specifically for these tests.
Upon arrival at Southampton docks in late August, the unit will be rail-hauled to a new purpose-built maintenance facility in Ashford, Kent, for commissioning prior to night-time testing starting on the National Rail network in early October. By the end of this year four of the 6-car trains are due to have arrived in the UK after which deliveries will stop for a year while Hitachi concentrates on building trains for the Japanese market. The company will then supply an additional 25 trains to complete the £260m order.
During construction of the first unit the decision was taken to change the colour of the livery of the trains from the light grey seen on concept drawings - and matching other recently introduced Southeastern trains - to a dark blue. Rolling stock leasing company HSBC Rail will own the Class 395s and will lease them to Southeastern. The trains will provide high speed domestic services into St Pancras using the Channel Tunnel Rail Link from 2009 and will also form the Javelin shuttle service which will be used to ferry passengers to and from Stratford International station during the 2012 Olympic Games. On the High Speed 1 route between Ashford and London St Pancras the trains will be capable of 186mph but while using the 'classic' network on routes to and from Dover will have a top speed of 100mph. Seating will be in a 2+2 configuration with capacity for 354 passengers.
Alistair Dormer, general manager at Hitachi Rail Systems London, said: "The delivery of the first 6-car Class 395 rolling stock is a major milestone for the Southeastern high speed programme. Design, production and factory testing has progressed extremely well and we are looking forward to the first train arriving in the UK. The safety approvals process is progressing according to plan to support testing on both mainline and metro Network Rail routes and the High Speed 1 route. This important milestone has only been achieved through excellent teamwork in Japan and the UK. Hitachi has been working closely with HSBC Rail, Southeastern, the DfT, Network Rail and SNCF, as well as our supplier base throughout the world."
Hitachi Rail Systems established its London office seven years ago. Internationally, the company has been operating in rail services for over 75 years and lists the design of the Shinkansen - or Bullet Train - among its achievements.