Hitachi starts work on trans-Pennines trains

UK-Japan News January 2018

Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd. has begun work on a new fleet of trains to serve Scotland and the north of England, the firm announced in a 19 December press release.

The 19 five-carriage trains will incorporate Japanese bullet train technology and will be built in Doncaster. The fleet will use hybrid power and be capable of reaching speeds of up to 140mph.

The trains will run across the Pennines, connecting Liverpool and Manchester with cities such as Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.