Eighteen IRO members sponsored by the North East Area visited the Hitachi Rail Europe (HRE) at Newton Aycliffe on Friday, 7th July 2017.
The visit commenced with a briefing presentation video outlining the A to Z development through the ages of rail transportation leading up to the introduction of the IEP 800 Azuma fleet under construction at Newton Aycliffe. The bodyshells arrive by road from Pistoia (Italy) via Teesport to (HRE) Newton Aycliffe site. This also includes bodyshells for 21 new trains constructed for Abellio Scotrail (ASR) due for delivery in December 2017.
We left the briefing room with our guides Jordan and Kirby. We entered the massive erecting shop housing the IEP 800 Azuma vehicles and the (ASR) Scotrail units. The 800 Azumas were in situ for First Group G.W.R. with the first trainset due for handover in September 2017. The bodyshells for Virgin 800 Azumas will arrive from Kasado (Japan) in future.
Members then had chance to board a completed Azuma set to test the seating and even view the driving cab!
The visit concluded with a photo call in front of an 800 class IEP Azuma.
Our warmest thanks must be afforded Jordan Hazell and Kirby Oliver and the team at Hitachi Rail Europe, Newton Aycliffe for overseeing an outstanding visit.
David Court
IRO North East
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