KNORR-Bremse has won an order worth EUR 42million (£36million) to provide braking systems for a new class of high speed trains, which will be used in the UK from 2017.
The manufacturer, whose UK rail operations are based at Hampton Park East in Melksham, has received an order from Hitachi Rail Europe to cover the braking systems for the initial 600 Hitachi train cars series Class 800. As well as supplying the braking system, the company will also offer support over the coming decades, securing jobs in both the short-term and long-term.
The Hitachi Class 800 series trains are destined for intercity service at speeds of up to 200 km/h. They are scheduled to come into service in 2017 as part of the Intercity Express Programme, initially replacing the existing Intercity 125 fleets on the Great Western Main Line. The new trains will also replace those currently operating on the long distance routes from London to destinations which include Aberdeen, Bristol, Cardiff and Edinburgh. Following their initial introduction, the new trains will also enter service on the East Coast Main Line during 2018.
The contract was signed by Keith Jordan, managing director of Hitachi Rail Europe, and Paul Goodhand, managing director of Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK in Melksham.
Paul Goodhand said, “We are all delighted here to become partners to Hitachi Rail Europe and have already formed a close working relationship with this dynamic company. We are committed and indeed look forward to supporting Hitachi Rail Europe in their UK manufacturing efforts, not only on the initial supply and commissioning of the brake system on this exciting new train, but also on providing support through its entire life cycle, some 28 years into the future.”
Keith Jordan said, “The Intercity Express Programme is a long-term project for us and we have demanding reliability targets. By partnering with Knorr-Bremse, we believe that we have found the right company to help us to achieve these goals. Bringing the right level of reliability and technical compliance, coupled with UK experience and a low life-cycle cost, the Knorr-Bremse brake systems will contribute to the long-term success of the Hitachi Class 800 trains.”
Dr. Dieter Wilhelm, executive board member of the Knorr-Bremse AG said, “We are proud that Knorr-Bremse has been chosen to play a key role in the creation of this exciting new Hitachi train. The co-ordinated effort and teamwork of Knorr-Bremse colleagues based in the UK, Germany and Japan has resulted in an outstanding braking systems solution for the Hitachi Class 800 trains.
“We now very much look forward to working with Hitachi Rail on this project and indeed to offering them further systems and services solutions for their other prestigious, global rail projects into the future.”
The Knorr-Bremse Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles. For more than 100 years now the company has pioneered the development, production, marketing and servicing of state-of-the-art braking systems.
Knorr-Bremse will be supplying the entire braking system for the Hitachi Class 800 series train, including EP Compact electronic brake control, the bogie equipment and the air supply system with oil-free compressor.
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