How long does it take to build a train?

[RobShipway]

Okay, you cannot always trust it but the wiki page for the class 805 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_805 is showing that they where started to be built in 2021, having been ordered in 2019. Yet, in the details it shows that only 4 have been built up to September 2023 and that 9 are under construction? I am sure that there is at least up to 805007 that has been built?

Now, I am sure that there is at least one of the class 807 that has been built, but the wiki page for the class https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_807 is showing that there is 10 trains under construction? But construction started in 2021, as per the class 805 trains.

If you look though at the wiki page for the class 800 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_800), there was 36 class 800/0 5 car trains built for GWR between 2014 - 2018. That is about 9 - 10 trains built a year.

 

[Energy]

It depends on whether the rolling stock is a new design and the order book of the manufacturer.

If you look though at the wiki page for the class 800 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_800), there was 36 class 800/0 5 car trains built for GWR between 2014 - 2018. That is about 9 - 10 trains built a year.

The Hitachi UK plant didn't open till September 2015 and wouldn't immediately reach full capacity. The initial units were built in Kasado, Japan.

It also doesn't include the rest of the IEP order.

 

[glasgowniteowl]

As far as I know they don't just build them one complete unit at a time, there are different types of carriages, ie driving, motor, trailer etc and even they have differences, so will probably be batch built, build a number of driving units before moving on to next type of carriage etc so may look like a low number in a particular year but will average out over the entire build period

 

[RobShipway]

Okay, thank you. I thought that they may have been assembling a few carriages at a time, but even so with having started the build process in 2021, I would have expected more than 4 units built of the class 805, given how many of the IET AT300 where built within the period between 2014 - 2018 even with the first ones being built in Japan.

I am presuming the building of the bodies is being done in Japan as per the original IET order and shipped to the UK?

If there is only 4 that are built so far, then I do wonder whether the introduction to service will still happen later this year?

 

[greyman42]

As far as I know they don't just build them one complete unit at a time, there are different types of carriages, ie driving, motor, trailer etc and even they have differences, so will probably be batch built, build a number of driving units before moving on to next type of carriage etc so may look like a low number in a particular year but will average out over the entire build period

In my experience, trains were built as a complete unit so that it could be delivered. The first unit invariably took the most time to build and then build time got shorter for subsequent units.

 

[Energy]

In my experience, trains were built as a complete unit so that it could be delivered. The first unit invariably took the most time to build and then build time got shorter for subsequent units.

Indeed, batch production of specific vehicles would increase the storage space needed and create gaps in production, not ideal.

 

[43096]

Okay, you cannot always trust it but the wiki page for the class 805 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_805 is showing that they where started to be built in 2021, having been ordered in 2019. Yet, in the details it shows that only 4 have been built up to September 2023 and that 9 are under construction? I am sure that there is at least up to 805007 that has been built?

Now, I am sure that there is at least one of the class 807 that has been built, but the wiki page for the class https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_807 is showing that there is 10 trains under construction? But construction started in 2021, as per the class 805 trains.

If you look though at the wiki page for the class 800 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_800), there was 36 class 800/0 5 car trains built for GWR between 2014 - 2018. That is about 9 - 10 trains built a year.

It's not just about the actual assembly - there is a lead time for materials procurement, setting up production lines (if not already existing) etc. That takes time.

As a contrast, where there is a production line of identical/almost identical vehicles for different customers, that timescale can be much reduced. For example, Siemens have been known to ship the first unit of a Vectron loco order to a customer in a matter of months from ordering. They can do that because the München Allach factory is a production line that produces a standard product, has a big order book (which guarantees production for years) and they can flex production to accomodate.

 

[twpsaesneg]

I am presuming the building of the bodies is being done in Japan as per the original IET order and shipped to the UK?

I believe a significant proportion of the bodyshells are now assembled in Newton Aycliffe now.

Link to article regarding Class 805 manufacturing

Of the 135 body shells making up the new fleet, 56 will be fully welded together in England, rather than being shipped from Japan. 8.5 million GBP is flowing into Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe site to ready it for full train manufacturing. The final assembly for the whole fleet, meaning the fitting of components and electrics, will take place at Newton Aycliffe.

 

[RobShipway]

It's not just about the actual assembly - there is a lead time for materials procurement, setting up production lines (if not already existing) etc. That takes time.

As a contrast, where there is a production line of identical/almost identical vehicles for different customers, that timescale can be much reduced. For example, Siemens have been known to ship the first unit of a Vectron loco order to a customer in a matter of months from ordering. They can do that because the München Allach factory is a production line that produces a standard product, has a big order book (which guarantees production for years) and they can flex production to accomodate.

I believe a significant proportion of the bodyshells are now assembled in Newton Aycliffe now.

Link to article regarding Class 805 manufacturing

Thanks Guys.