TransPennine Express and Angel Trains Order Hitachi AT300 Carriages

Image courtesy of Hitachi

The TransPennine Express, operated by FirstGroup, has placed an order for 95 AT300 Inter-City rail carriages from Hitachi in a deal financed by Angel Trains. The carriages are part of a move to improve trans-Pennine services in terms of capacity, reliability and comfort. The trains will be delivered from July 2019.

The deal is the first part of the acquisition of 19 five-car Hitachi AT300 bi-mode trains which will run on both diesel and electric at up to 125mp/h. The deal was approved by the UK Government as part of its Northern Powerhouse plans.

Malcolm Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Angel Trains, said:

“We are delighted to be procuring, financing and leasing these new bi-mode trains that will transform intercity travel in the North. Passengers will be able to travel seamlessly cross the TransPennine network, regardless of whether the route is electrified or unelectrified, on reliable and comfortable new trains offering modern amenities, including Wi-Fi. We are committed to providing value and meeting passengers’ needs both now and in the future, and this new fleet is further demonstration of that commitment.
“We have already invested over £3.8 billion in the UK rail industry and, working with our partners in the industry, we look forward to continuing to make further significant investments in rolling stock in future.”