Hitachi Rail Europe has contracted Dellner for the supply of carriage gangways for its new Class 800 series trains, as part of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP).
Under the contract, around 1,500 new gangways will be produced by Dellner that will connect up the 866 carriages on the 122 new express trains that are being built under the IEP programme.
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The new Hitachi Class 800 series trains are expected to be operated on the East Coast and Great Western Main Lines from 2017.
Dellner Limited in the UK managing director Gary Shuttleworth said: "Aftersales service and support, including spares, repair and overhauls will also be supported from Swadlincote for the life of the vehicles."
Prior to awarding the contract, Dellner produced and delivered a prototype and mock-ups of the gangways for testing their performance, quality and reliability.
Hitachi Rail Europe procurement director Jamie Foster said: "While Dellner are a Swedish company, the gangways that will be used on the new Class 800 series trains will be built here in the UK, in Derby.
"This gives us the reassurance that over the 27.5 years that Hitachi Rail Europe is contracted to maintain the trains, the gangway manufacturers are in close proximity to provide support."
Currently, the company is designing and developing the gangways, and expects to deliver the first unit in March 2014.
Foster further added that the British railway suppliers such as Romag, Nomad Digital, GB Railfreight and Knorr-Bremse have already been selected as partners, or preferred bidders.
Image: The Hitachi Super Express trains will run on the UK’s Great Western and East Coast Main Lines. Photo: file image.
