04.07.19
LNER Azuma trains to run in Scotland from August
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) plan to run their new Azuma fleet of trains in Scotland from August, the operator announced today.
The new trains have been running services on the East Coast mainline since May, but were not able to launch in Scotland due to problems with electrification.
Upgrades to the rail network need to take place north of Doncaster to allow the trains to run on the line.
The new fleet, built by Japanese company Hitachi, boasts of around 100 more seats per train compared to the current fleet, and features extra leg room and free wifi.
Karen Boswell OBE, managing director at Hitachi Rail, said: “Hitachi-built Azumas will truly transform the passenger experience on the East Coast mainline, offering extra seats, greater reliability and more journeys.
“Azuma may look like a Japanese bullet train, but underneath it is very British, with over 70 per cent of parts sourced from the surrounding areas of our factory.”
The trains were manufactured in a purpose-built factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
(Pictures: Kirsty O'Connor, PA Images)