15.03.17
Stevenage station platform work ahead of Azuma trains to begin next week
Work will soon begin on extending the platform at Stevenage station to allow all the carriages of Virgin’s new Azuma trains to fit into the station.
The £800,000 project is planned to begin on 20 March and is scheduled to be completed on 15 June, but should not cause any disruption to passenger journeys throughout that time.
Stevenage’s platform extension follows two other projects that Network Rail is working on in Durham and Northallerton to accommodate for Virgin’s new fleet of Azuma trains – which will be the fastest the company has ever used on Britain’s railway network.
Aidan Talbott, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail, said: “The work we are carrying out at Stevenage station is an important part of our Railway Upgrade Plan and will allow all carriages of the new Azuma trains to fit into the station.
“It is a vital piece of enhancement work to the railway and will bring even greater benefits for passengers travelling on the East Coast Main Line. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience whilst this work is carried out.”
A spokesperson for Virgin Trains commented: “Our Virgin Azuma trains, which will be introduced from next year, will help us to transform the customer experience, creating more capacity, and faster and more comfortable journeys on our east coast route.”
The trains are capable of reaching speeds of 125mph in around four-and-a-half minutes, faster than Virgin’s electric trains – which can reach that speed in five minutes and 10 seconds – and the diesel fleet, which can do it in seven minutes.
Virgin is also investigating the possibility of the East Coast route enabling the operation to go to 140mph.
The Azumas are hoped to shave around 22 minutes off journeys, reduce the London-Edinburgh journey down to four hours and make the journey between the capital and Leeds only two hours.
Additionally, the new carriages promise customers a more comfortable ride and additional 12,200 seats, increasing capacity into King’s Cross by 28%.
Hitachi is in the process of building the 65-strong fleet at its facility in Newton Aycliffe.
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