New Intercity Express train completes maiden test journey in Wales

New Intercity Express trains have completed their first journey in Wales ahead of entering passenger service later in 2017.

Hitachi, the company building and maintaining the new fleet, successfully ran the test train along the Great Western main line to Wales. The train ran through the Severn Tunnel, Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend and Port Talbot before finishing at Hitachi’s purpose-built train maintenance centre in Swansea.

New trains transforming passenger experiences in Wales

The new Intercity Express trains will bring a step-change in passenger experience, offering passengers more seats, more space and better on-board technology. 

From autumn 2017 the trains will connect Wales to London Paddington and major cities including Reading, Bristol, Bath and Swindon.

Each of the new trains will be bi-mode, allowing them to switch seamlessly between diesel and electric power. This means even whilst modernisation of the Great Western route takes place, passengers will still be able to benefit from the new trains.

Designed in Japan, built in Britain

The new trains for Wales are being built at Hitachi’s UK manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Using their famous Japanese bullet train technology, Hitachi’s Intercity trains will offer the very best in build quality and reliability.

Karen Boswell, Managing Director at Hitachi Rail Europe, said: “For passengers in Wales this milestone marks another step closer in experiencing the benefits of investment in their railways”

The trains will become a common sight in Wales as test activity increasing over the coming months.