Japanese-built train makes debut on British rail lines

Wednesday 01st July, 02:37 PM JST

British commuters are making trips on Japanese-built high-speed trains for the first time, with more orders expected to follow for the European unit of Hitachi Ltd. if the project proves successful. Since Monday, travelers from Kent, southeast England, have been using Hitachi’s six-car Class 395 in a ‘‘preview’’ rail service to slash times into central London. The service, which has been introduced on a limited basis until its full introduction in December, is being billed as Britain’s fastest domestic service and connects Ashford in Kent to London’s St. Pancras station.

British commuters, long accustomed to unreliable train services, have reacted ‘‘extremely positively’’ to the Japanese-built trains, according to railway officials. The Hitachi ‘‘Javelin’’ trains reach speeds of up to 224 kilometers per hour on the high-speed route which is also used by the Eurostar trains that run between London and Paris via the Channel Tunnel. At full capacity, there will be a total of 29 trains using the line which is operated by Southeastern Rail. The new service sees the journey time from Ashford to London (about 108 km) being cut from about one hour and 20 minutes to 37 minutes. Once the full service is running, it is intended that the trains will connect central London with the stadium in east London that is being built for the 2012 Olympics. The Javelin trains will also stop at other Kent commuter towns beyond Ashford. The contract for the trains was worth 260 million pounds ($423 million) and they were constructed at Hitachi’s Kasado plant in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture. Hitachi is hoping it will lead to future contracts in Britain and Europe. In February, a consortium led by Hitachi Europe Ltd. won a 7.5 billion pound contract to supply Britain’s intercity rail network with a fleet of Hitachi Super Express Trains. The massive contract for 1,400 new carriages has sparked criticism from a British-based train manufacturer which says it takes jobs out of the country. But Hitachi says the majority of the work will be completed in Britain at a new facility.

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Latest 15 of 37 Total Comments Show All

nandakandamanda at 01:09 AM JST - 2nd July

Excellent news, and good-looking trains too! :8)
nemoflow at 02:16 AM JST - 2nd July

Actual LOL @ SwissToni.
OssanAmerica at 04:27 AM JST - 2nd July

History is a funny thing. In the 1800s Japan (as well as the United States) imported all their rail from Britain, then the world leader in railway technology. And here they are in 2009 buying Japanese high speed trains. Oh and yea most Brits I know have few kind things to to say about British Rail's performance. But that's been going on for decades.
TokyoHustla at 04:44 AM JST - 2nd July

Ossan, good point. But the fact is still that America has the greatest rail network on the planet, one which extends over thousands of miles and helps keep the world's greatest nation performing. There is no peer to America's high speed rail network. None.
TumbleDry at 07:28 AM JST - 2nd July

TokyoHustla: what high speed?
as_the_crow_flies at 08:30 AM JST - 2nd July

Oh and yea most Brits I know have few kind things to to say about British Rail's performance. But that's been going on for decades

Actually the rail system was privatised in the late 80s and 90s and it's since then that the service has really gone down the tubes. The problem is is not so much the trains themselves, it's the service. A shiny new train that's late because of engineering works at Orpington is still going to be late, wherever it's made. As another poster pointed out, it's going to run on a prestige, fast track line. Of course it will whizz through in half the time - it doesn't have to pass through other local stations on the way. I doubt if this is even news in the UK, as most people are interested in the commuter service that gets them into work, and they will mostly continue to be sh#t.
OneForAll at 08:57 AM JST - 2nd July

In Global trade it is good. I hope the Japanese in turn buy things from Britain to be produced in Japan.
buggerlugs at 09:46 AM JST - 2nd July

Course japan will buy the minimum requried to fulfil any contract agreements. Trains will only look nice as they pull late into the station.
Kwaabish at 10:25 AM JST - 2nd July

There is no peer to America's high speed rail network. None.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! That's a good one.... LOL
NeoJamal at 01:13 PM JST - 2nd July

In Global trade it is good. I hope the Japanese in turn buy things from Britain to be produced in Japan.

If some British boyband releases "AMBITIOUS BRITAIN!" be sure to tell the Japanese.
griff at 01:15 PM JST - 2nd July

Ossan, good point. But the fact is still that America has the greatest rail network on the planet, one which extends over thousands of miles and helps keep the world's greatest nation performing. There is no peer to America's high speed rail network. None.

again, denver to san francisco: average speed 30mph. EPIC FAIL
upnorth71 at 11:19 PM JST - 2nd July

When it comes to trains, the Brits and the Yanks totally dropped the ball.

Actually Sebastian, if the Americans had even half of the level of rail service Britain enjoys(?), warts and all, it would be twice as good (at least) as what Amtrak does. British trains and railway stations are like Star Wars compared to the sad state of passenger service in the good 'ol USA, which has been described as "like the passenger rail system of Uzbekistan without the basic competence".
notimpressed at 04:17 PM JST - 7th July

Tokyohustler* helps keep the world's greatest nation performing. There is no peer to America's high speed rail network. None.

OOps I think I just threw up in my mouth a lil bit from that patriotic garbage. Again, to repeat what Northlondon said, Why is everyone harping on about America on a story that concerns Britain and a Japanese company. Are you lot that obsessed with yourselves? Are all the MOds Americans too?

By the way ... worlds greatest what? 83rd safest where? Economic what? Give me a break, there are a score of countries I would rate as better for as many different reasons as you lot use as claims to fame.

Good for BRITAIN getting those JAPANESE trains, that The U.S don't have and will never get. Rant Done. Sumimasen. Slow day.
rogerbentham at 08:27 PM JST - 7th July

japanese trains suck. America stands tall and proud.
notimpressed at 03:11 PM JST - 8th July

and loud