HS2 is set to offer the public a first look at the interior design concepts for its Class 895 trains this weekend (1st-3rd August), as it joins national celebrations marking 200 years of the modern railway.
The high-speed rail project is participating in ‘The Greatest Gathering’, an event at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works, which will open its doors to the general public for the first time in nearly 50 years. The event aims to celebrate the past, present, and future of rail, bringing together a vast collection of historic and modern trains and rail-related exhibits.
As part of the future-focused rail exhibition, visitors will have the exclusive opportunity to book tours of a life-size model carriage. This model has been fitted out to illustrate the concept design for HS2’s Class 895 train, offering a tangible glimpse into future rail travel.
This “show and tell” initiative highlights the intensive ongoing collaboration between HS2 Ltd, West Coast Partnership Development (WCPD) – the future high-speed rail operator – and Hitachi-Alstom High Speed, the joint venture responsible for building the new fleet.
James Dawson, HS2 Ltd’s senior rolling stock engineer, said: “We’ve dedicated time and energy into understanding what matters most to people when they travel by train, and by listening and acting on feedback we can be confident that our interior designs will meet and exceed passengers’ needs. These trains will run across Britain on high-speed and conventional lines for decades to come, so it’s important we get the fundamental design right, not just for today but also for the future.”
The public has played a significant role in shaping these initial design concepts. An extensive user development exercise, described as the most comprehensive ever for a new UK-built train fleet, has been led by WCPD, involving twenty dedicated user groups and a consumer focus group of over 500 people.
New design features are being incorporated to ensure the train will be accessible and inclusive for all passengers. These include step-free access at new HS2 stations, re-profiled grab handles, and audio announcements and visual display screens within toilet cubicles. Furthermore, customers using mobility aids will have greater freedom to select their seats, with wheelchair users benefiting from equal provisions found at all other seating on the train.
Rigorous user testing has been instrumental in defining the design requirements, ensuring that onboard facilities meet the diverse needs of those travelling for work or leisure, whether as solo passengers or with friends and family.
Key design features highlighted include:
- A generous seat pitch, offering more legroom than any other standard class UK train.
- Improved overhead and beneath-the-seat luggage storage, acknowledging passenger preference to keep possessions close by.
- Baby changing tables, clothing/bag hooks, and a pull-down child seat in toilet cubicles, addressing feedback from families with small children.
- Saloon seats equipped with a spacious dropdown tray table and a separate shelf for holding phones when viewing video content.
- Multiple power and charging options, including 3-pin plugs and USB-C.
- Redesigned horizontal bike storage, optimising space and facilitating quicker, easier boarding and alighting for cyclists.
HS2 Ltd awarded the contracts to build Britain’s next generation of high-speed trains to the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed joint venture in 2021. These contracts, valued at approximately £2 billion, are expected to provide a major boost to the UK’s rail manufacturing and supply chain sectors.
The fleet of trains will be designed and built at three key UK sites: Derby, County Durham, and Crewe. This work is estimated to spearhead the creation of around 2,500 jobs in the Midlands and the North, including new apprenticeships. The trains will be maintained at the new HS2 depot in Washwood Heath, Birmingham.
Specifically, the bogies will be manufactured in Crewe, while bodyshell welding and electrical installation will be completed in County Durham. The final interior fit-out will take place at the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed joint venture facility in Derby.
James Grundy, Project Director for Hitachi-Alstom High Speed, said: “As we progress towards delivering the next generation of high-speed trains for HS2, the feedback from passengers has been invaluable. Their insights have helped us develop and refine the design concept, to ensure that our trains not only meet but exceed expectations for accessibility, comfort and convenience. Engaging with a diverse range of future passengers, including those who may not typically consider train travel, has been crucial in shaping the features that will make a real difference to their experience. Hitachi-Alstom High Speed is committed to putting passengers at the heart of every decision. Working with our stakeholders and closely with the public, we are confident that we’re creating a fleet of trains that will set a new standard for intercity travel in the UK. When HS2 is operational, this collaborative approach will underpin a transformative and stress-free journey for a wide range of people.”
The all-electric trains are being designed to operate seamlessly on both the HS2 network and the existing rail network. This will enable HS2 trains to travel north towards Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow in the future. Capable of speeds of up to 225mph (360km/h), they are set to be among the quickest, quietest, and most energy-efficient high-speed trains operating anywhere in the world.
Detailed design work is continuing ahead of the manufacturing of the exterior bodies. HS2 Ltd’s Chief Executive, Mark Wild, is leading a comprehensive reset of the HS2 project to ensure the railway can be delivered efficiently and at the lowest reasonable cost; therefore, timescales may be subject to change.
