Abellio has confirmed that Hitachi Rail Europe is its preferred supplier of new rolling stock for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Pro-gramme, subject to successful conclusion of negotiations.
Andy Barr, Hitachi Rail Europe’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “This is great news, as it is the first contract for our recently launched AT200 commuter train. These trains will be built at Hitachi’s new manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe, complementing the delivery of the Class 800 and 801 trains for the Intercity Express Programme, boosting jobs and growth in the North East.”
Hitachi will build a fleet of AT200 commuter trains. A life-size mock-up of this new development was recently presented to the UK and international rail industry. It has been designed to transform the regional commuter travel experience.  With a top speed of 100 miles per hour, each unit is 23 metres in length, and features cab-end and inter-vehicle gangways to facilitate the best use of passenger space. The train has a 35-year design life and is made to complement the requirements as set out by Transport Scotland.  In particular, they place a heavy emphasis on energy efficiency and weight reduction to minimise the impact on the infrastructure.
Passengers will have a pleasant travelling environment with adequate table and toilet facilities, LED lighting and air conditioning as standard. Power sockets and wifi are available throughout the trains, bringing modern comforts to the travelling public. In addition to this, the space underneath cantilever seats provides room for luggage, which is supplemented by further luggage storage for commuter travel.
This is the latest contract for Hitachi Rail Europe in the UK. To date, the train manufacturer has delivered the preview service for the Class 395 Javelin™ trains, Britain’s fastest commuter service, to Southeastern six months early.  They remain the most reliable train fleet on Southeastern’s network. The new trains for Scotland further Hitachi’s AT200 range of trains, a custom-designed train for their passengers’ requirements.
Furthermore, Hitachi Rail has implemented new methods of vehicle construction and manufacturing based on its A Train product platform.  These methods will be employed in the construction of the AT200 trains.  In addition to the Class 800/801 trains commissioned for the government’s Intercity Express Programme. The trains will be built at Hitachi Rail’s flagship unit in Newton Aycliffe bringing 730 jobs. The trains, run by Abellio, will be in operation from 2017.