UK: Franchised passenger operator Great Western Railway and leasing company Eversholt Rail confirmed an order for an additional seven electro-diesel trainsets from Hitachi Rail Europe on August 3.
The new trainsets will be built at Hitachi Rail Italy’s Pistoia plant. They are in addition to the 57 trainsets which Hitachi is providing for GWR from 2017 under the government’s Intercity Express Programme, and GWR’s separately-financed order for a further 29 trainsets to enter service in 2018.
‘They give us greater flexibility in our fleet to deliver faster, more frequent, services and additional seats for customers, particularly while Network Rail completes the modernisation of the Great Western Main Line’, said GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood.
Hitachi Rail Europe Managing Director Karen Boswell said Hitachi was ‘pleased GWR and Eversholt Rail Group have exercised one of the options they have with us to increase their fleet. This further strengthens our working relationship with two major customers.’
