The production and welding of a new fleet of Aurora trains have started for East Midlands Railways in Durham. The 33 trains are to be built by Hitachi Rail Uk as part of a £110 million investment.
With the Aurora trains to enter service in 2023, there are presently over 40 newly qualified welders and painters working on them.
The unique trains will be able to run on both electricity and diesel. For those who have interest in theology. The peculiar name of the trains has been inspired by Aurora the Roman goddess of the dawn, symbolizing a new beginning for region.
Rachel Turner, Head of New Trains at East Midlands Railway, said: “The start of the welding process is an exciting milestone in the journey to bring our new state-of-the art Aurora trains to East Midlands Railway customers.
“We are also working in partnership with Hitachi to provide more opportunities and significant investment to Derby and the wider East Midlands. This includes working with Derby-based supplier, DGDESIGN, to create unique, comfortable and welcoming interiors for the Aurora as well as investing to upgrade our depot at Etches Park so it can continue to provide highly-skilled jobs and maintain the fleet for many years to come.
“Our joint commitment will not only ensure that the fleet meets the needs of our customers but also that EMR can continue to support the communities we serve.”
Etches Park depot in Derby will also be upgraded thanks to East Midlands Railway, which is where the new trains will be maintained. Furthermore in regards to what everyone wants to know, the trains will provide fast and comfortable journeys between London St Pancras, Sheffield and Nottingham.
Jim Brewin, Head of UK & Ireland, Hitachi Rail said: “These new intercity trains will deliver a real step-change for East Midlands Railway passengers, with more seats and modern passenger facilities. Therefore our partnership with East Midlands Railway is going to deliver tangible benefits for both the British economy and rail passengers.”
You can now watch the newly released video of the present ongoing works on the Aurora trains. It features a number of shots that were taken across the region and includes footage of the welding and interviews with EMR staff.
