The Intercity Express Programme - Hitachi AT300

The famous InterCity125 has revolutionized intercity rail travel in the United Kingdom. The HST's are well on their way to 40 years old and it is quite apparent that a replacement for the aging trains is necessary. It was decided in 2005 that a replacement will be required and the government set about finding a suitable train to replace the iconic HST.
Class 800 at Old Dalby Test Track.

In February 2009 the government announced that the preferred bidder for the Intercity Express Programme was Hitachi, with a train named the Hitachi Super Express. The train is based on the Class 395 Javelin trains already in operation the the United Kingdom, with differences including the size of the body shells, carriage length and interior design. The interior of the trains has been designed by a company called DCA Design. The trains feature 2+2 seating, more legroom than its predecessor, electronic seat reservation system, plug sockets, sliding doors and WiFi.



The trains are destined to operate on the newly electrified Great Western Mainline between London, Reading, Swindon, Bath, Bristol and South Wales and on the East Coast Mainline between London and Scotland. The trains come in two different variations. The Class 800's have the ability to run on electric power and diesel power for un-electrified lines, whereas the Class 801's are electric only. The order for the Great Western Mainline is 36 bi-mode 5 car trains and 21 electric 9 car trains. The order for the East Coast Mainline is 10 bi-mode 5 car trains, 13 bi-mode 9 car trains, 12 electric 5 car trains and 30 electric 9 car trains. On the East Coast Mainline the Hitachi Super Express will replace both the HST's and Class 91 loco hauled trains.

There has been a lot of controversy over buffet cars on the new Intercity Express Programme trains. All the trains were specified to have a trolley service instead of a buffet car. Since taking over the East Coast franchise, Virgin Trains have said that they will change this and insert a buffet car, but First Great Western are sticking by the trolley service and the buffet car will soon become history on the Great Western Mainline.

In early 2015, First Great Western submit proposals to replace the HST's on the Paddington to Plymouth/Penzance route in addition to the Paddington to Bristol/South Wales route. The preferred supplier was named as Hitachi. The Department for Transport has now given the green light for this additional order of Hitachi AT300 trains.

This additional order for Hitachi's AT300 train means that all HST's will be replaced in First Great Western's long distance fleet. There are a few notable differences on the AT300 as opposed to the Intercity Express Trains. They share the same body shell, design and interior but as electrification will end at Newbury, the trains will need to have a larger fuel tank to cater for the journey to Penzance and will also have a more powerful engine to cope with steep gradients in Devon. The order is made up of 7 bi-mode 9 car trains and 22 bi-mode 5 car trains. The trains will be painted in new GWR green and will operate as far as Newbury as electric trains and from Newbury will switch to use the underfloor diesel engines to continue their journey to the West of England. The 5 car trains can be coupled together to form 10 car trains and the higher powered AT300's will be used primarily on the Paddington to Plymouth/Penzance route.

SOURCE ~ @HitachiRailEU 
The first Intercity Express Programme trains have already arrived in the UK and are undergoing extensive tests at the Old Dalby test track. The first 22 units will be built in Japan and the remaining units will be built in a new
purpose built factory in County Durham with 72% of the parts sourced from the UK. Unfortunately due to the current IEP order, the UK factory will be too busy to build the West of England AT300 trains and will therefore be constructed in Japan.




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