01.05.12
Bright ideas
Source: Rail Technology Magazine Apr/May 2012
Hitachi and the Royal College of Art Vehicle Design programme are working closely together on a new rolling stock R&D project. Adam Hewitt reports.
Hitachi Rail Europe, whose first rolling stock contract in Europe was for the fleet of 29 Class 395 high-speed trains for High Speed 1, and which, as the lead partner in the Agility Trains consortium, is expected to deliver bi-mode ‘Super Express’ rolling stock to replace the InterCity 125 fleet on the GWML and ECML, is expanding its horizons.
Although the company has traditionally taken a lot of inspiration from its parent firm’s work as a leading supplier of the Shinkansen (bullet train) for the Japanese and international markets, it is also looking ahead to future contracts and concepts.
This is why it has chosen to work with the Royal College of Art (RCA), whose Vehicle Design programme is expanding from its traditional focus on the automotive sector into public transport.
The partnership will involve designing new rolling stock concepts for London trains, with the designs and ideas of the RCA team and students to be incorporated into Hitachi’s own designs.
Professor Dale Harrow, head of the RCA Vehicle Design programme, explained: “The time is right for us to get involved in public transportation design, especially in our home town, London. There are a number of exciting projects in the pipeline, and we are keen to show the college’s design capability in this area.
“Our first train project will focus on Crossrail and London Underground’s deep tube EVO trains. The Vehicle Design programme has helped many automotive companies with innovative solutions to everyday design problems, and we will do the same for trains.”
The RCA, a postgraduate university celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, is keen to make clear the many factors that go into vehicle design, including aerodynamics, environmental impact, ergonomics, legislation, materials, production, safety and technology – all of which are even more important in the rail market.
It says it is particularly satisfying that the partnership could result in a train designed for London, in London.
Chiaki Ueda, chairman of Hitachi Rail Europe, said: “Our design team will carefully evaluate the ideas the students develop and integrate the best ideas into our existing train designs. This will help us to create exceptionally reliable trains that will become as iconic and unique as the Class 395, currently operating between St Pancras and Kent.
“Hitachi has ambitious plans to build a manufacturing facility for our UK and European customers in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. We also have plans for a Research & Development centre there. This is our first project with the RCA, and we see it as a starting point of our UK and European focussed R&D activity. We are really looking forward to working with the RCA and expanding our mutual activities in the coming years.”
Professor Harrow added: “We are fortunate to have Hitachi Rail Europe as our partner for this new venture. Hitachi has successfully delivered the Class 395 train and has been selected as the train builders for the Intercity Express Programme. Working with a leading train manufacturer will ensure that the students have access to up-to-date technology and expertise in rolling stock design, while developing their own creative ideas.”
Students will be working on their design ideas over the coming months and present them in an exhibition in London in early September.
The best concepts will be exhibited at the Hitachi stand at this year’s InnoTrans in September in Berlin.
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