Hitachi Ltd. said Wednesday it has reached a deal with British railway operator Abellio U.K. to build 165 train cars for £400 million (¥52.8 billion).
Abellio U.K. plans to introduce a new fleet of trains made by Hitachi on the Midland Main Line in England, serving locations including Sheffield, Nottingham and Lincoln, as well as Kettering and London St. Pancras, beginning in 2022.
The 120-meter-long train, which consists of five cars, can run at a maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour on both electrified and nonelectrified sections, and is equipped with features including air conditioners, free Wi-Fi and plug sockets.
When running on nonelectrified sections, Hitachi's latest diesel engine will cut harmful emissions by up to 90 percent compared with previous high-speed train models, the conglomerate said.
Another British railway operator, London North Eastern Railway Ltd., launched the Hitachi-made Azuma high-speed train on a track covering about 300 kilometers between London and Leeds in northern England in May. LNER plans to operate 65 Azuma diesel-electric trains.
Hitachi has produced high-speed trains since Japan's first shinkansen entered into operation in 1964.
