Two UK-based rail giants are today submitting a train proposal to High Speed Two (HS2) that would be the most advanced, customer-oriented train ever to run in the UK.
The contract, worth £2.75 billion, is to design, build and maintain at least 54 trains for Phase One of HS2.
Hitachi has pioneered Japan’s world-renowned Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’ while Bombardier offers a depth of international experience from its high speed trains operating in Europe and on the world’s largest network in China.
READ MORE: Caledonian Sleeper trains reveal first look inside new rail fleet
In 2015, the two companies together delivered the Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) ETR1000 for Trenitalia, which is the fastest yet quietest in-service high speed train in Europe.
Operating at speeds up to 225mph, it has transformed passenger experience and connectivity across Italy.
Its success has been recognised with Trenitalia placing a further order for 14 new trains yesterday, increasing Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) high speed services across Italy.
READ MORE: ScotRail vows to add 20,000 seats
Alongside London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, HS2 services will also serve destinations beyond the core HS2 network, including York, Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Karen Boswell, Hitachi Rail’s managing director, said: "Hitachi-Bombardier’s Great British train for HS2 would be a shining example of British ingenuity.
"Our bid, if successful, would bring significant benefits for economies and communities, while truly transforming connectivity and passengers’ experience.”
READ MORE: £100m Edinburgh to London 'bullet-inspired' rail service due 2021
Phil Hufton, Bombardier’s President, UK, said: "HS2 is this generation's chance to transform our country.
"Our Great British train will connect our great cities and improve the journeys of every passenger. HS2’s vision is to be a catalyst for growth across Britain – we are ready to make that happen.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article