HS2 revealed the interior design concepts for its Class 895 trains for the first time, as part of railway celebrations marking 200 
years of modern rail transport.
The designs were showcased at Alstom's "The Greatest Gathering" event in Derby over the weekend from 1-3 August where visitors were able to tour a life-size model carriage fitted out to illustrate the concept design for HS2’s Class 895 train.
The interior concepts have been developed through what organisers describe as the most extensive user development exercise ever conducted for a new UK train fleet.
Over 500 people participated in consumer focus groups, alongside 20 dedicated user groups, to inform the passenger experience programme led by future operator West Coast Partnership Development.
Key design features included generous seat pitch offering more legroom than any other standard class UK train, improved luggage storage both overhead and beneath seats, and baby changing facilities with clothing hooks and pull-down child seats in toilet cubicles.
Saloon seats featured spacious dropdown tray tables with separate phone shelves, whilst multiple charging options included three-pin plugs and USB-C connections.
The trains will incorporate accessibility improvements including step-free access, reprofiled grab handles, and audio-visual announcements in toilets.
Wheelchair users will have equal provisions to other passengers, with greater freedom in seat selection.
"We've dedicated time and energy into understanding what matters most to people when they travel by train, and by listening and acting on feedback we can be confident that our interior designs will meet and exceed passengers' needs," said James Dawson, HS2 Ltd's senior rolling stock engineer.
The all-electric trains, built by the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed joint venture under contracts worth approximately £2 billion, will operate at speeds up to 225mph on both HS2 and existing networks.
Manufacturing will take place across Derby, County Durham, and Crewe, with maintenance at Birmingham's Washwood Heath depot.
