First new Cotswold Line express train unveiled in Japan

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Witney Gazette:

First new Cotswold Line express train unveiled in Japan


The new Class 800 train, which will operate on the Cotswold Line, pictured at Hitachi^s Kasado works in Japan

The first of the new generation of express trains for the Cotswold Line through West Oxfordshire has been unveiled in Japan.

The Class 800 electro-diesel bi-mode train made its public debut last Thursday at the trainbuilder Hitachi^s Kasado works, which builds Shinkansen bullet trains for Japanese railways.

The train is one of three pre-production sets being built in Japan.

Another nine of the 122 trains on order for the Great Western and East Coast main lines will be assembled at Kasado before work switches to a factory now under construction at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham.

The first three trains are due to be shipped to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) early next year to begin an extensive test programme, which will include high-speed running on the line between Didcot and Reading once the installation of overhead electric power cables is completed later next year.

They will enter passenger service from 2017, linking London and Reading with Didcot, Oxford, Swindon, Bristol, South Wales and the Cotswolds.

The Class 800 trains, which will seat 315 passengers, are equipped with underfloor diesel engines, also allowing them to run on non-electrified routes, such as the Cotswold Line between Oxford, Worcester and Hereford.

The Great Western fleet of 36 Class 800 trains will all have five coaches, which can be coupled together to create a 10-coach train for peak periods.

Hitachi will also build 21 nine-coach Class 801 trains for Great Western services, seating 627 passengers, which will only be able to operate off overhead electric power, although they will have a small diesel engine to move the train short distances if there is a power failure.

The trains are being supplied under a ^2.7bn lease agreement, running for 27 years, with Hitachi maintaining the trains at new depots in London, Bristol and Swansea. The trains will have a top speed of 125mph, but will be able to accelerate much faster than First Great Western^s current diesel High Speed Trains to help cut journey times.

A spokesman for Hitachi said: ^IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) will provide an efficient means for passengers to travel on electrified and non-electrified routes, as well as enhancing the customer experience with more modern trains, better interiors and seating arrangements and, of course, faster journey times.^

A FGW^▸ (First Great Western) spokesman said: ^We^re looking forward to seeing them on our network from 2017.^

[IanL]

Looking at the images, I hope that is two passenger doors/side on the end carriage/cab.....one of the big failings of the Adelante at Oxford in particular is the length of time it takes to unload passengers from coaches A and E as they only have a single door on the platform. Often these two carriages are still emptying of passengers when the middle three have emptied and refilled with passengers.

[Network SouthEast]

Yes, every carriage on the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) has two sets of doors for passenger use.

[Rhydgaled]

Yes, every carriage on the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) has two sets of doors for passenger use.

Are you sure about that? Assuming the draft seating layouts are not changed, the kitchen is in the first class driving vehicle between the saloon and the leading doors. It isn't clear from the plan whether passengers would be able to walk through the kitchen.

[JayMac]

Possibly like the Pendolinos then. First Class cab end with one door for public use and one for staff use. Standard Class cab end with two doors for public use.

[Network SouthEast]

Yes, sorry. Indeed no public door in the 1st class end carriage. But at least there should be fewer passengers in 1st compared to standard to slow things down.