Virgin Trains has unveiled a new high-speed train designed by Hitachi Rail Europe that will go into operation between London and Edinburgh in 2018, The Telegraph reported on 18 March.
The train—which can travel at 201kph and thus cut the journey by more than 20 minutes—is one of 65 trains being built at Hitachi’s plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. It is part of an investment totalling £3.3bn.
Sir Richard Branson Kt, founder of the Virgin Group, said: “We have called the train Azuma because I have been very impressed when I have travelled by train in Japan—and the word azuma [is the archaic term meaning] east in Japanese. This is a new dawn for rail in this country”.