Rolls-Royce (www.rolls-royce.com) has inaugurated a new training centre for MTU rail drive systems in East Grinstead.

Here, the company will instruct the technicians of end users, dealers and distributors — as well as internal service technicians — in the handling and maintenance of these systems.

The training centre includes a workshop that allows hands-on training with a Power Pack and a Series 1600 engine, and it offers intensive courses lasting from three to five days.

The most important customer and partner is currently Hitachi Rail; its Class 800, 801 and 802 high-speed trains are in service on tracks all over Great Britain, powered by MTU Series 1600 Power Packs.

Jack Commandeur, group director of maintenance service operations at Hitachi Rail, said: “The new training centre is an impressive example of Rolls-Royce’s commitment to our trains and the millions of journeys they run every year.

"The training of technicians from Hitachi and Rolls-Royce in the handling of MTU Power Packs makes an important contribution to the further success of our co-operation.”

Rolls-Royce says its MTU training centres play an important role, as MTU drive solutions — like all high-tech systems — can only perform at their maximum capability if they are maintained in a professional manner.

The company says this is why it is constantly investing in MTU training programmes and offers courses at MTU training centres in 20 countries all over the world.