Hitachi (
www.hitachi.com) began testing the new TransPennine Express Nova 1 fleet with a successful run between Doncaster and Darlington at the end of July.
In the coming months, testing will span the entire route, calling at major stations across the North of England and Scotland.
The train is currently operating out of Hitachi’s new £80 million depot in Doncaster and is being financed by Angel Trains.
From 2019, a fleet of 19 Nova trains will connect major cities in the North of England and Scotland, running from Manchester and Liverpool, across the Pennines to cities such as Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
Hitachi is using its famous Japanese bullet train technology to make the new Nova 1 fleet light and aerodynamic and they will all be bi-mode trains, able to switch seamlessly in mid-journey between electric and diesel power.
Running in either five- or 10-carriage formation, they will be capable of speeds up to 140mph in electric mode and 125mph in diesel mode.
Using modern MTU engines from Rolls-Royce will cut harmful emissions under diesel power by up to 90%.
The trains will be fitted with the latest in-cab digital signalling technology, ahead of the route becoming the first digitally controlled intercity line.
Barry White, chief executive of Transport for the North, said: “We are delighted to welcome these exciting new trains into the North.
“They are among the first of many new trains that will change the lives of rail users throughout the region, as we begin a period of major and sustained investment in our transport infrastructure.
"The extra capacity that these trains offer is much-needed, and the fact that they are future-proofed with the latest technology is further evidence of long-term thinking for a brighter future.”