20.02.13
Technical specifications for IEP published
The Government has published the technical specification and contracts for the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) with Hitachi’s Agility Trains consortium.
The £4.5bn deal was finalised last July and the new trains will replace the ageing InterCity 125 fleet.
596 carriages will be built at Newton Aycliffe and are due to enter service on the Great Western Main Line in 2017 and the East Coast Main Line by 2018.
The technical specifications are available at: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/82840/tts-redacted.pdf
The specifications note: “IEP Trains must deliver Full Functionality when operating over the following route types:
• Routes with a 25 kV AC Overhead Electrification Supply;
• 1500V DC overhead electrified routes (not drawing power)
• 750V DC third rail electrified routes; (not drawing power)
• Non-electrified routes
• Routes including any combination of the above either together or separately.”
It adds: “The design of the IEP Units must ensure that the IEP Units have the flexibility to allow for train formation changes, changes of power source, and redeployment throughout their life. The design of the IEP Units must minimise the cost and timescales to effect these changes.
“It is an essential requirement that the number of different Functional Vehicle Types within the architecture of the various trains is minimised and there shall in any event be no more than 13 distinct Functional Vehicle Types. A Bi-mode IEP Unit must be capable of being readily modified to an Electric IEP Unit at a future date by the removal of Self Power Sources from one or more IEP Vehicles.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]
Image c. Hitachi