Following the take over of the West Coast franchise by First Trenitalia, orders have been placed for British-built trains which will supplement refurbished Pendolinos on the new Avanti West Coast service.
The new rail operator First Trenitalia has confirmed the £350m contract with Hitachi Rail.
The manufacturer will supply and maintain 10 electric and 13 bi-mode InterCity trains from its County Durham assembly plant.
The bi-mode trains – a model first ordered by the government for the east coast and great western mainlines – will run on diesel in parts of the network, including north Wales, which are yet to be electrified.
The Hitachi trains will have more seats, and be quieter and substantially less polluting than the Voyager trains they will replace, which are due to be phased out from 2022.
 |
| An artist’s impression of the new trains, which will replace Voyager's, at Birmingham New Street station. Photograph: Hitachi/PA |
The manufacturer will supply and maintain 10 electric and 13 bi-mode InterCity trains from its County Durham assembly plant.
The bi-mode trains – a model first ordered by the government for the east coast and great western mainlines – will run on diesel in parts of the network, including north Wales, which are yet to be electrified.
The Hitachi trains will have more seats, and be quieter and substantially less polluting than the Voyager trains they will replace, which are due to be phased out from 2022.
