Rolling stock

First Class 395 leaves factory on time

The first six-car Class 395 unit for Southeastern High Speed Services has been successfully delivered on time to the shipping line for transportation to the UK.

The unit has been successfully loaded onto a ship at Hitachi’s Kasado Factory in Japan having completed extensive factory testing. Full static and dynamic tests have been carried out on the completed unit, including system integration tests, signalling system, operational tests on the French TVM 430 signalling system supported by SNCF and dynamic traction and braking tests on the factory test track, which has been fitted with UK standard 3rd rail specifically for these tests.

Upon arrival at Southampton docks in late August, the unit will be rail hauled to the new purpose built maintenance facility in Ashford for commissioning prior to starting dynamic testing on the network in early October.

Alistair Dormer, general manager at Hitachi Rail Systems London, said: “The delivery of the first six-car Class 395 rolling stock is a major milestone for the Southeastern High Speed programme Design, production and factory testing has progressed extremely well and we are looking forward to the first train arriving in the UK. The safety approvals process is progressing according to plan to support testing on both Mainline and Metro Network Rail routes and the High Speed 1 route.”

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