Building the high speed train of tomorrow - Bombardier Transportation and Hitachi Rail showcase their design innovations

Today the Bombardier/Hitachi bid team has been setting out how they intend to build on the design and engineering excellence of the hugely successful train they developed together for the Italian high speed rail network - The Frecciarossa 1000.

The joint bid team want to build on this successful partnership as they develop a world class offer for the British HS2 fleet. Once the contract has been awarded in March 2020 the successful HS2 bidder will be part of a collaborative design process to shape the final product, with the interiors and passenger offering specified by the Department for Transport and the HS2 franchise operator.

Hitachi and Bombardier’s experts from the UK, Italy, Japan and Germany are exploring a wide range of innovations for what will be Britain’s fastest ever train, running at 360km/h. The engineers and designers are modelling ways to make the new train lighter, quieter and more energy efficient, combined with features to maximise comfort and capacity.

This engineering excellence could also be supported by a best in class digital offer. The team fully understand how future technologies will enhance the customer experience and they are exploring how their systems could offer:

At seat food and drink ordering

Seat occupancy detection system

Real-time contact with train staff to check ongoing connections

Click and collect

Bombardier and Hitachi’s previous high speed train – the Frecciarossa 1000, aka the Red Arrow – has had many firsts since its maiden ride in 2015. Main features include increased accessibility for wheelchair users, free unlimited Wi-Fi technology, exceptional seating comfort and air conditioning distribution at floor, window and ceiling height allowing for optimal thermal comfort.

Designed to offer flexible interior layouts, the Italian state railways opted for four different passenger classes aboard the train, including Standard, Premium, Business and Executive, which includes a boardroom facility equipped with a meeting table and 32” monitor to display presentations.

And as well as whisking passengers to their destination at the fastest speed in Europe, the Frecciarossa 1000 also offers Italian passengers great comfort and style; with interiors produced by Bertone, the design experts renowned for working with Lamborghini and Aston Martin.

The Frecciarrossa also led the way in environmental sustainability by using over 90% recycled materials.

Karen Boswell, Managing Director at Hitachi Rail, said:

“I have no doubt that travelling on HS2 will be a game changer. As well as introducing much needed rail capacity and stimulating regional growth, the passenger experience for this new network will be exceptional. Our two companies have already combined to deliver a brilliant and hugely popular very high speed train for Italy, and we will build on this experience to design a truly iconic product for the UK.”

Phil Hufton, Managing Director UK, Bombardier Transportation, said

“'HS2 is a golden opportunity to transform Britain by adding capacity and spreading prosperity. Bombardier and Hitachi have an unrivalled track record in together delivering transformative high speed projects, and our bid team is now taking high speed innovation to the next level by combining engineering excellence with the capacity to deliver cutting edge passenger benefits.”

David Meechan, Hitachi Rail: david.meechan@hitachirail.com - 07925 636 703

Notes to editors:

Hitachi and Bombardier have formed a joint venture to design, build and maintain 54 trains for HS2 Phase 1. The final bid is to be submitted in March next year and the £2.7bn contract is due to be awarded in March 2020.

The next generation of high speed trains will offer passengers an unrivalled travel experience at it runs at speeds of up to 360 kp/h on the the new link between the West Midlands and London when it opens in 2026.

The trains will also be specially designed to make them ‘classic compatible,’ so that they are able to travel on the current network to serve cities such as York, Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Bombardier and Hitachi’s combined UK operations currently employ around 7000 people, that includes train factories in Derby and Newton Aycliffe, extensive regional supply chains, together with a network of maintenance facilities across England, Scotland and Wales. The companies are already developing a new generation of engineers, with a focus on diversity and inclusion to attract new talent into the rail industry. The joint HS2 project would provide a launch pad for new investment in education and learning, adding to their existing partnerships with local schools and the 200 apprentices and graduates who are already employed.

The partnership between the two UK-based firms is built on an impressive depth of experience delivering high speed trains internationally. Hitachi built the original Shinkansen bullet train in Japan in 1964, and, boasting an impeccable safety and reliability record, continues to pioneer the most recent incarnations of the iconic trains. Bombardier offers a depth of experience having built over 3,000 high speed train carriages for China, including the most recent CHR380D.

In the UK, Hitachi maintains the country’s only domestic high speed fleet, the Class 395 Javelins, which it built and introduced ahead of the London 2012 Games. The trains, which have run from Ashford to London St Pancras at a top speed of 140mph for almost a decade, are one of the most reliable and popular services in the country. While in Europe, Bombardier has enabled some of the most prestigious very high speed developments across the continent, including four TGV series in France, the AVE S-102 and AVE S-130 in Spain, the ICE family in Germany and the ETR 1000 in Italy realised in partnership with Hitachi.

The two companies are also making responsible procurement a cornerstone of their approach, in terms of long-term employment and reducing environmental impact.

This Joint Venture is an agreement to share HS2 bidding information between Hitachi Rail and Bombardier Transportation with a view to jointly bid to build a new fleet for HS2. Hitachi Rail and Bombardier Transportation remain competitors in all other markets and competitions.