Japanese company Hitachi Rail has unveiled the newest high-speed trains, which are set to arrive on British tracks in 2018.
The new Intercity Express Programme Super Express trains, which were announced on November 13th, will first replace First Great Western’s fleet of 1970s InterCity trains. First Great Western has ordered a total of 900 carriages.
Once the Paddington to Bristol line is fully electrified, the trains will run at a top speed of 125 mph. The trains will also be used for journeys to Cardiff, Worcester, Oxford and Swansea.
According to a Hitachi spokesman, the new trains will be more comfortable for passengers, as well as helping to cut operating costs. They should also be simple to maintain. First Great Western’s spokesman Dan Panes claimed that the trains would “revolutionise travel on our services”.
East Coast will also run the trains, although they are not expected to go into use on its services until 2020.