Contracts worth £60m for Hitachi Rail Europe to supply and maintain five AT300 five-car electro-diesel multiple-units for use by open access company Hull Trains were finalised by the operator's parent company FirstGroup and leasing company Angel Trains on November 2.

This follows the granting of a 10-year track access agreement to the Yorkshire “ London open access operator, running from 2019 until December 2029.

Hitachi is to build the AT300 trainsets at its plant at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, and maintain them at Bounds Green depot in north London. They are expected to come into service in 2019, running under 25 kV 50 Hz electrification on the East Coast Main Line and continuing on diesel power to Hull and Beverley.
(Permalink) AT300 Hitachi Rail Hull Trains Newton Aycliffe

First TransPennine Express Ltd has awarded Hitachi Rail Europe and leasing company Angel Trains a contract to supply 19 five-car AT300 electro-diesel multiple units for use on the TransPennine Express franchise in northern England from December 2019.
The contract was announced on March 31, the day before the new TransPennine Express franchise starts. FirstGroup said the AT300 would be 'amongst the most advanced inter-city trains in the UK', and 'completely remodel the experience of train travel in the North'.
The AT300 trainset will be 'closely related' to the Class 800 electro-diesel trainsets being supplied under the Department for Transport's Intercity Express Programme, but to cope with the gradients on the TransPennine network they will utilise higher engine operating power, and be equipped with larger fuel tanks and brake resistors.
They will have a service speed of 200 km/h, but with the capability for running at 225 km/h subject to the provision of suitable infrastructure.
(Permalink) AT300 Class 800 First TransPennine Express Hitachi