14.11.07
Hitachi unveils ‘bullet train’ at new Ashford depot
Hitachi Europe Ltd has unveiled its Ashford Train Depot maintenance facility and six-car Class 395 ‘bullet train’ unit for Southeastern High Speed Services.
The world class maintenance facility includes a five track maintenance shed, incorporating a double road bogie and equipment drop pit and a heavy inspection road. Ashford also includes carriage washing plants, a bio-hazard pit for the safe removal of waste, a 25kV test track and a tandem wheel lathe. Additionally, the depot includes stabling facilities for rolling stock operating on Southeastern mainline services.
The depot will house the first Class 395 unit, which has been manufactured to the latest UK and European safety standards in Hitachi’s facility in Kasado Japan. A further three trains are currently being assembled and will be delivered over the coming months and will complete a rigorous testing programme on the High Speed 1 line between Ashford and St Pancras and on the Kent network. The remaining 25 trains will be delivered in 2009.
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