The £2 billion contract to build the 225 mph trains for High Speed 2 has been awarded to a joint venture between Hitachi and Alstom.
Whilst the majority of the work will be undertaken at plants in Newton Aycliffe and Derby, the West Coast economy will benefit from the assembly and maintenance of the train bogies at Alstom’s facility in Crewe. The train fleet will also be maintained at a new depot being built at Washwood Heath in Birmingham.
The first train is expected to roll off the production line around 2027, and the first passengers are expected to be carried in the period 2029 to 2033.
Further details on the new trains can be found at Trains – High Speed 2 (hs2.org.uk)