Hitachi A-train


The Hitachi A-train is a family of rail rolling stock built and designed by Hitachi using a common base and construction techniques. The stock is designed to facilitate a number of product life-cycle improvements including ease of manufacture, increased energy efficiency, and recyclability.

Description

The "A-train" design concept includes several elements: the primary feature is the vehicle car bodies constructed from double skin aluminium extruded sections which are friction stir welded, other features of the design are hollow extruded mounting rails on the vehicle body to which modular components are attached.
Initially the A-train family consisted of multiple units designed and built by Hitachi, for use on the railway system in Japan. The A-train family comprises trains for both commuter services and limited express services. Hitachi has given the family a modular design which enables both production and refurbishment to be undertaken faster. The A-train's strong body is the result of the use of revolutionary technology called friction stir welding. Due to the low heat input of this patented process high strength, excellent crashworthiness and minimal distortion can be achieved.

Japanese trains

Hitachi has provided a number of trains based on the A-train concept for use in Japan:
For their products overseas, the Hitachi A-train has different designations by Hitachi depending on their type.
Hitachi have been marketing the A-train family overseas. Both the Chongqing Monorail in China and the Sentosa Express Monorail in Singapore utilise A-train derived cars.
At approximately the same time as the UK order, Hitachi received an order from Taiwan Railway Administration for six 8-car trains, based on the Japanese 885 series, designated as TEMU1000, for operation on the main line between Taipei and Hualien. Deliveries of the trains began in late 2006, with the first public test of the new trains in March 2007.
In 2007, Korail ordered eight 4-car express trains branded as the Trunk-Line Electric Car to Hitachi. These car body, bogies, power systems made in Japan, but were to be assembled at SLS Heavy Industry in Changwon, Korea. and, a significant amount of the components have been replaced by a Korean part.
The trains were for deployment on "Rapid Train" services on the Gyeongbu Line and Janghang Line between Seoul station and Sinchang Station, branded Nuriro and with a maximum speed of 150 km/h.
In 2019, the first few Hitachi A100 units arrived in Bangkok for testing on the SRT Red Lines, due to open in January 2021. These trains are coloured red, and are very remisniscent of a typical Japanese communet train. They are nicknamed "Red Mice" and will run as 4 to 6 car trains.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom became the first country to have a major conventional rail order for Hitachi outside Japan when Southeastern ordered 29 electric multiple units for use on domestic services on High Speed 1. These were designated as Class 395 units, which are standard gauge with the ability to operate at speeds of up to 225 km/h. Southeastern branded these trains as the Javelin, a reference to the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Hitachi gained further ground in the UK market when it was announced that an A-train based design similar to that of the Class 395, initially named the Hitachi Super Express, won the United Kingdom Government's Intercity Express Programme tender to replace InterCity 125 and InterCity 225 sets on the Greater Western and InterCity East Coast franchises. These units were announced to be classified as Class 800 electro-diesel 'bi-mode' units powered by AC overhead wires where available and underfloor diesel generators beyond extents of electrication and the Class 801 electric multiple unit sets powered purely by AC overhead wires. The train specification allows for the conversion of Class 800s to Class 801s, as it is assumed that electrification will continue to expand. The units would form as part of the Hitachi AT300 product, joining the Class 395 in the same family.
The choice of Hitachi units was controversial due to the fact that it would see little final manufacturing in the UK over the foreign-owned but domestically manufactured Bombardier option, particularly in the area that would have manufactured, leading to a campaign to reverse the decision. It was, however, economics which became a sticking point with the weight of the design creeping up and reportedly difficult negotiations over the final unit price and production balance between the different power options. The inability or reluctance of the financial markets to provide the necessary capital was the final straw, leading to the announcement in February 2010 of a three-month independent review into the value for money of the programme.
After winning the franchise, Abellio ScotRail announced they would be purchasing Hitachi AT200 trains for their commuter services.
In March 2015, after the initial order of the Class 800 units, Great Western Railway ordered 29 bi-mode Class 802 units which would also join the AT300 product. These units have little difference over the Class 800 units, with the difference being the fact that the 802s have a larger power output to cope with gradients in Devon and Cornwall and are also built with larger fuel tanks. Being a bi-mode unit, they will also use overhead electric power between London Paddington and Newbury. Having initially ordered 29 units, it was later announced that there would be an increase of up to 36 units on order. The first of the Class 800s entered service with GWR in October 2017 and the first of the Class 802s entered service with GWR in August 2018, with all of the units being branded as Intercity Express Trains by GWR.
The first unit with London North Eastern Railway entered service in May 2019 after a delay, with their first trains in service being their Class 800s. Their Class 801s entered service afterwards in September 2019. Separately from GWR, these trains are branded as Azuma, which is 'east' in japanese.
Many other UK operators have also made a bid for more members of the Hitachi AT300 product family, which include that of TransPennine Express ordering Class 802s and Hull Trains also ordering Class 802s. More AT300 units are also due to enter service with East Midlands Railway as well as future operator East Coast Trains. Avanti West Coast have also ordered AT300 units, which will be classified as Class 805 and Class 807.