Latest news with #Class895
The Irish Sun
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
First look inside UK's new £2bn high speed trains with underseat luggage storage and the ‘most comfortable seats ever'
THE public is getting a first look inside Britain's new £2billion high-speed trains, featuring underseat luggage storage. In Derby, this weekend, train enthusiasts will be able to step aboard a full-size model of HS2's new Class 895 train at Alstom's Litchurch Lane Works. Advertisement 3 The full contract to design and build 54 trains is worth around £2billion Credit: HS2 The replica carriage is part of 'The Greatest Gathering', a landmark event celebrating 200 years of the The sleek new interiors have been developed by HS2 Ltd, the West Coast Partnership and the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed team. The full contract to design and build 54 trains is worth around £2billion. These trains are expected to run at speeds of up to 360 km/h, and will be able to continue beyond the HS2 line on existing tracks to Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. Advertisement Read more on Each one is designed to be among the fastest, quietest and greenest trains in the world. Inside the carriage, the standard class seats promise what HS2 calls 'market-leading' legroom at 87 centimetres. Passengers will also get The seats recline without tipping backwards, thanks to a clever sliding mechanism, a much-needed upgrade for passengers fed up with stiff, upright seating on older UK services. Advertisement Most read in News Travel This public unveiling marks the first time people can physically experience the carriage design after concept images were released in late 2024. It comes at a crucial time for HS2, which has faced rising public pressure and political scrutiny over its soaring costs and long delays. Officials hope the new trains will help restore some excitement around a project that has often struggled to win hearts or headlines for the right reasons. Recent HS2 stories have highlighted both progress and pain. In London, major milestones have been reached at Old Oak Common, the capital's new £2billion 'super station'. Advertisement New 400-metre platforms have been laid and work is ramping up to prepare the site for up to 250,000 passengers a day. But in stark contrast, residents in places like Burton Green, Warwickshire, say the rail line has brought nothing but chaos. A 700-metre tunnel has sliced the village in half, and locals complain of years of noise, disruption and falling house prices, many say the project no longer benefits them in any way. Earlier this summer, The Sun revealed that Advertisement The London to Birmingham section alone is now expected to cost between £49bn and £67bn, with £27bn already spent. 3 The line itself is now far behind schedule It's just one of several recent examples that have drawn criticism over how taxpayer money is being used. The line itself is now far behind schedule. Advertisement Originally pitched as a Y-shaped high-speed network linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, the project has been scaled back to a single leg between London and Birmingham. Even this stretch isn't expected to open until at least 2033 — more than ten years behind its original target. HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Wild recently told The price of civil works has risen from £19.5bn to £26bn. Advertisement Wild says the project is now in a full reset phase, with delivery teams being rebuilt and construction work only moving forward when designs are fully mature. Still, there are bright spots. The 3.4km Colne Valley Viaduct, one of the project's most visible feats, is nearing completion after years of careful work. The twin-bore Chiltern Tunnel was completed earlier this year, and the enormous Northolt Tunnel under west London broke through in June 2025 after four giant boring machines worked for months to finish the job. Advertisement So while passengers can now glimpse the inside of HS2's trains — and enjoy a seat that might finally deliver comfort at speed — the reality is that the journeys they're built for are still a long way off. 3 Each one is designed to be among the fastest, quietest and greenest trains in the world Credit: HS2 The trains may be ready, but the track ahead remains far from clear.
Scottish Sun
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
First look inside UK's new £2bn high speed trains with underseat luggage storage and the ‘most comfortable seats ever'
Packed with hidden comforts and one clever fix passengers have begged for ON TRACK First look inside UK's new £2bn high speed trains with underseat luggage storage and the 'most comfortable seats ever' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE public is getting a first look inside Britain's new £2billion high-speed trains, featuring underseat luggage storage. In Derby, this weekend, train enthusiasts will be able to step aboard a full-size model of HS2's new Class 895 train at Alstom's Litchurch Lane Works. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The full contract to design and build 54 trains is worth around £2billion Credit: HS2 The replica carriage is part of 'The Greatest Gathering', a landmark event celebrating 200 years of the British railway, offering visitors a first-hand look at what the future of rail travel might look like. The sleek new interiors have been developed by HS2 Ltd, the West Coast Partnership and the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed team. The full contract to design and build 54 trains is worth around £2billion. These trains are expected to run at speeds of up to 360 km/h, and will be able to continue beyond the HS2 line on existing tracks to Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. Each one is designed to be among the fastest, quietest and greenest trains in the world. Inside the carriage, the standard class seats promise what HS2 calls 'market-leading' legroom at 87 centimetres. Passengers will also get USB-C and 3-pin charging sockets, dropdown tables, small shelves for devices, and handy coat hooks. The seats recline without tipping backwards, thanks to a clever sliding mechanism, a much-needed upgrade for passengers fed up with stiff, upright seating on older UK services. This public unveiling marks the first time people can physically experience the carriage design after concept images were released in late 2024. It comes at a crucial time for HS2, which has faced rising public pressure and political scrutiny over its soaring costs and long delays. Officials hope the new trains will help restore some excitement around a project that has often struggled to win hearts or headlines for the right reasons. Recent HS2 stories have highlighted both progress and pain. In London, major milestones have been reached at Old Oak Common, the capital's new £2billion 'super station'. New 400-metre platforms have been laid and work is ramping up to prepare the site for up to 250,000 passengers a day. But in stark contrast, residents in places like Burton Green, Warwickshire, say the rail line has brought nothing but chaos. A 700-metre tunnel has sliced the village in half, and locals complain of years of noise, disruption and falling house prices, many say the project no longer benefits them in any way. Earlier this summer, The Sun revealed that HS2 bosses were blowing £1,200 a month on tropical office plants while project costs continued to climb. The London to Birmingham section alone is now expected to cost between £49bn and £67bn, with £27bn already spent. 3 The line itself is now far behind schedule It's just one of several recent examples that have drawn criticism over how taxpayer money is being used. The line itself is now far behind schedule. Originally pitched as a Y-shaped high-speed network linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, the project has been scaled back to a single leg between London and Birmingham. Even this stretch isn't expected to open until at least 2033 — more than ten years behind its original target. HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Wild recently told MPs that early mistakes, including awarding major civil engineering contracts before final designs were ready, led to ballooning costs. The price of civil works has risen from £19.5bn to £26bn. Wild says the project is now in a full reset phase, with delivery teams being rebuilt and construction work only moving forward when designs are fully mature. Still, there are bright spots. The 3.4km Colne Valley Viaduct, one of the project's most visible feats, is nearing completion after years of careful work. The twin-bore Chiltern Tunnel was completed earlier this year, and the enormous Northolt Tunnel under west London broke through in June 2025 after four giant boring machines worked for months to finish the job. So while passengers can now glimpse the inside of HS2's trains — and enjoy a seat that might finally deliver comfort at speed — the reality is that the journeys they're built for are still a long way off. 3 Each one is designed to be among the fastest, quietest and greenest trains in the world Credit: HS2 The trains may be ready, but the track ahead remains far from clear.
ITV News
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- ITV News
HS2 reveals hi-tech plans for what high speed trains will look like inside
HS2 has revealed new hi-tech designs for how the inside of their trains will look once they are on the tracks. New design features have been announced which will help ensure the train will be accessible and inclusive. Designs include a generous seat pitch with more leg room than any other standard class UK train, improved overhead and beneath the seat luggage storage and baby changing tables, clothing, bag hooks and a pull-down child seat in the toilet cubicle. They also show saloon seats with a dropdown tray table, a separate shelf to stand phones on when viewing video content, multiple power and charging options and a redesigned horizontal bike storage. Rail enthusiasts heading to Alstom's "The Greatest Gathering event" in Derby this weekend will have the opportunity to see the concept designs for HS2's Class 895 trains up close. As part of the rail exhibition, visitors will be given the opportunity to book an exclusive tour of a life-size model carriage, which has been fitted out to illustrate the concept design. James Dawson, HS2 Ltd's senior rolling stock engineer, said: 'We've dedicated time and energy into understanding what matters most to people when they travel by train, and by listening and acting on feedback we can be confident that our interior designs will meet and exceed passengers' needs. 'These trains will run across Britain on high-speed and conventional lines for decades to come, so it's important we get the fundamental design right, not just for today but also for the future.' Twenty dedicated user groups and a consumer focus group of more than 500 people have helped to inform the passenger experience programme of work. HS2 has also revealed there will also be step free access at new HS2 stations, re-profiled grab handles, audio announcements and visual display screens in the toilet cubicles are just some of the changes being made. Customers travelling with mobility aids will also have greater freedom to select their seat and wheelchair users can expect equal provisions as found at all other seating on the train. Rigorous user testing has helped look into the design requirements to ensure the onboard facilities meet the needs of those travelling for work, leisure, as a solo passenger, or with friends and family. James Grundy, project director for Hitachi-Alstom High Speed, said: 'As we progress towards delivering the next generation of high-speed trains for HS2, the feedback from passengers has been invaluable. "Their insights have helped us develop and refine the design concept, to ensure that our trains not only meet but exceed expectations for accessibility, comfort and convenience. "Engaging with a diverse range of future passengers, including those who may not typically consider train travel, has been crucial in shaping the features that will make a real difference to their experience. 'Hitachi-Alstom High Speed is committed to putting passengers at the heart of every decision. "Working with our stakeholders and closely with the public, we are confident that we're creating a fleet of trains that will set a new standard for intercity travel in the UK. "When HS2 is operational, this collaborative approach will underpin a transformative and stress-free journey for a wide range of people.' HS2 Ltd awarded the contracts to build Britain's next generation of high-speed trains to the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed joint venture in 2021. The contracts, worth around £2bn, will provide a major boost to the UK's rail manufacturing and supply chain sectors. The fleet of trains will be designed and built at three key UK sites, including Derby. It is estimated it'll create around 2,500 jobs in the Midlands and the North, including new apprenticeships. The trains will be maintained at the new HS2 depot in Washwood Heath, Birmingham. The bogies will be manufactured in Crewe, the bodyshell welding and electrical installation will be completed in County Durham and the interior fit out will be completed at the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed joint venture facility in Derby. The all-electric trains will be designed to operate on both the HS2 network and the existing rail network – enabling HS2 trains to travel north towards Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow in the future. Capable of speeds of up to 225mph (360km/h), they will be among the quickest, quietest, and most energy efficient high-speed trains operating anywhere in the world. The show and tell opportunity in Derby at the weekend showcases the ongoing work between HS2 Ltd, the future high speed rail operator West Coast Partnership Development (WCPD), and the joint venture company building the fleet of high-speed trains, Hitachi-Alstom High Speed.
