22.03.12
Joint project for RCA and Hitachi
The Royal College of Art (RCA) has announced a joint project to design a train forLondon, with students’ ideas to be incorporated into train designs by theHitachiteam.
The RCA’s vehicle design programme is expanding into public transportation, and students will work on design ideas to present in an exhibition inLondonin early September. The best concepts will then be exhibited atHitachi’s stand at InnoTrans inBerlin.
Professor Dale Harrow, head of the RCA vehicle design programme said: “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.
“We are fortunate to have Hitachi Rail Europe as our partner for this new venture. Hitachihas 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.”
Chiaki Ueda, chairman of Hitachi Rail Europe added: “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 ourUK and European customers in Newton Aycliffe,CountyDurham. 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 ourUK and European focussed R&D activity.”
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