Where might the new Hitachi trains be going?

[fgwrich]

Hitachi Factory - First Group order 14 new trains with options for 13 more

The local paper, The Northern Echo, tonight is leading with a story that Kier Starmer will announce a land mark deal to save the plant. Article is behind a paywall, so the only text to read is below...

www.railforums.co.uk

So, who will this be for? SouthEastern? Northern as Bi-Modes?

 

[brad465]

So, who will this be for? SouthEastern? Northern as Bi-Modes?

Aren't HS2 trains being at least partly assembled there? Unless the factory's future after this was in doubt I suspect this will be the major programme sold as keeping the factory open, but I assume they can work on simultaneous projects where needed, so could take on another operator's planned fleet orders?

 

[Geeves]

Could it be related to First/DFT LUMO and TPE requirements?

 

[WesternLancer]

Could it be related to First/DFT LUMO and TPE requirements?

Well I’m sure we can rule out any extra vehicles for MML despite them being so obviously needed every time I use the route.

 

[birchesgreen]

Hopefully new fleet of 80x trains for XC, with a lot of extra capacity and bi-mode capability. Well it won't be of course but i can hope.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Could this be something like refurbishment of the class 385/395 fleets?
Or conversion of some 80x for battery operation?
I didn't think the new fleet procurements were advanced enough for an award to be made.
New competitive orders also tend to be announced first thing to the stock exchange.
Maybe some remaining 80x options can be called.

 

[800001]

Aren't HS2 trains being at least partly assembled there? Unless the factory's future after this was in doubt I suspect this will be the major programme sold as keeping the factory open, but I assume they can work on simultaneous projects where needed, so could take on another operator's planned fleet orders?

They will be completing the shells and electrical work I believe, before they transfer to Derby for bogies and internal fitting.

 

[JonathanH]

Hitachi Factory - First Group order 14 new trains with options for 13 more

The local paper, The Northern Echo, tonight is leading with a story that Kier Starmer will announce a land mark deal to save the plant. Article is behind a paywall, so the only text to read is below...

www.railforums.co.uk

So, who will this be for? SouthEastern? Northern as Bi-Modes?

TPE's fleet of 29 new trains might be a possibility. I didn't think the Southeastern procurement was that advanced.

Hopefully new fleet of 80x trains for XC, with a lot of extra capacity and bi-mode capability. Well it won't be of course but i can hope.

I think we can emphatically rule that out given there has been no procurement exercise for such a fleet.

 

[dosxuk]

Love the optimism that it will be a huge new order, when it's far more likely to be a tiny order, just big enough to kick the closure can down the road a few more years (see also the 10 extra 345's).

 

[A S Leib]

Is there a chance of anything new for Chiltern yet?

 

[800001]

Love the optimism that it will be a huge new order, when it's far more likely to be a tiny order, just big enough to kick the closure can down the road a few more years (see also the 10 extra 345's).

Most likely just a follow on to the Avanti order, exercising the option for a certain amount of carriages, that was in initial contract.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I wonder if this order might be Lumo related - all these new services they're starting plus extra carriages for their existing fleet as well...?

That would be a fairly big order.

 

[hacman]

I wonder if this order might be Lumo related - all these new services they're starting plus extra carriages for their existing fleet as well...?

That would be a fairly big order.

This would be excellent news in general to be honest - Lumo desperately need some extra cars in their 803s with the level of success they've seen!

It also makes very little sense running 5 car trains on a route which has path constraints...

 

[JamesT]

I wonder if this order might be Lumo related - all these new services they're starting plus extra carriages for their existing fleet as well...?

That would be a fairly big order.

Would seem a little odd for Starmer to be trumpeting an order by an Open Access Operator as the government saving the plant. Surely it would have to be an order from a DfT-controlled TOC?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

That would be a fairly big order.

There is certainly quite a pile of potential from FirstGroup
More pure EMU 803 for existing Lumo and Stering) and battery for Carmarthen, with potential for more of Euston - Rochdale or Paddington - Paignton get approved.

 

[Highview]

The most important issue is what livery these new trains will be painted.......

 

[BlueLeanie]

Well, can always hope for 25 seven-car hybrid sets for ScotRail, and a further 25 seven-car hybrid sets for Chiltern.

Along with a commitment to electrify the route from Marylebone to Bicester Town/Village and Winslow via Little Kimble by 2035.

 

[jh64]

The new TransPennine build has previously been reported as contract signing in July 2025 (https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/p...ains-to-learn-lessons-from-past/65942.article) - is it a bit too early to be hearing anything about that order?

 

[irish_rail]

I haven't seen train lengthening mentioned? Surely extra coaches for GWRs ridiculously large fleet of 5 car 80x should be a strong contender!

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

What are Scotrail’s intentions for HST replacement? I would certainly be eyeing up the 7-Cities network if I was a rolling stock manufacturer.

 

[Whistler40145]

Bi modes for Grand Central?

 

[Trainbike46]

This is unlikely to be referring to any Open Access Operator, like GC or Lumo/Hull Trains, as much as they may be in need of new stock, simply because the government would not be involved in their stock orders.

Similarly, it is unlikely to be Scotrail (or TfW, but I don't think they're looking for new stock), as Starmer would not be the person announcing such an order.

So, an expansion of an existing fleet (TPE 80x, EMR 810, GWR 80x, Avanti 80x) seems an option
Alternatively, it could be something related to Chiltern, GWR Churchward, or Northern's sprinter replacement programme?

 

[sprinterguy]

Aren't HS2 trains being at least partly assembled there? Unless the factory's future after this was in doubt I suspect this will be the major programme sold as keeping the factory open

That is certainly my thought: Construction was due to start in 2025 at the time of the contract award in 2021, so reiteration of this commitment would be timely. It's a large order that'll keep Newton Aycliffe busy for an extended period of time, and I rarely anticipate political transport announcements being anything that hasn't already been announced before.

 

[Mikey C]

This will be a small top up order for an existing fleet of Hitachi trains, I imagine.

As I said on the other thread, you can't just dish out major new orders to one UK factory, without causing a storm from the other ones, seeing that CAF and Alstom will also be chasing those major orders.

 

[DanNCL]

My money is on ScotRail. The 385s are popular, a battery follow on order would produce a large common fleet for much of the Central Belt.
Starmer is PM of the whole of the UK so can announce it, but most likely it would be a joint announcement with the SNP administration.

 

[Royston Vasey]

This will be a small top up order for an existing fleet of Hitachi trains, I imagine.

As I said on the other thread, you can't just dish out major new orders to one UK factory, without causing a storm from the other ones, seeing that CAF and Alstom will also be chasing those major orders.

Specifically lengthening of existing 80x units, in my opinion, since even small orders (the 10x CAFs for LNER) and refits go out to tender.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The dire need is for an affordable regional bi/tri-mode train to replace the Sprinter generation.
But that is not what the current UK factories are set up to produce, nor is there yet an ITT to generate bids.
Buying Stadler 755s/756s, the nearest current design, doesn't do anything for domestic production.

 

[800Travel]

News article now out - https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/hitachi-rail-jobs-county-durham-30529287

A contract to safeguard the future of Hitachi Rail’s operations in Newton Aycliffe has been confirmed by the Government, as part of what Number 10 called "a £500 million deal that will uplift the industrial heartlands, and boost rail services for passengers across the UK". Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Friday that an agreement had been struck for Hitachi to build 14 new trains for FirstGroup, which runs train services including Lumo and Avanti West Coast.

Wonder which FirstGroup Brand it'll be

 

[John R]

14x5 car Class 80x for their existing and new OA operations, with options for another 13 if future OA applications are approved.

From First Group's press release (no link from FG site, but available from market newswire sources):-

FIRSTGROUP PLC

fourteen new trains to drive First Rail open access growth

FirstGroup plc (the ‘Group’) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Lease Agreement with Angel Trains Limited (‘Angel Trains’) and Hitachi Rail Limited (‘Hitachi’) for the lease of 14 new trains.

• The Group has signed an agreement with Angel Trains and Hitachi to lease 14 new five-car class 80X Hitachi electric, battery electric or bi-mode trains (70 cars in total) at a cost of c.£500m including maintenance, over a ten year lease period
• The trains will be manufactured by Hitachi in County Durham, securing the skills base and jobs in the local area
• The new trains will enable FirstGroup to significantly expand its open access portfolio and will be used on the newly announced London-Carmarthen route and to increase the number of cars on the existing Lumo and Hull Trains services
• The agreement also contains an option for FirstGroup to lease up to an additional 13 trains on the same terms if the Group’s open access applications are granted by the Office of Rail and Road (‘ORR’)

 

[DavidK]

I think based on how busy the trains look when coming through Newcastle (in both directions), they could quite easily fill 2 x 5 car joined together and take more revenue off LNER.