HS2 Ltd, the company building the high-speed line between London and Birmingham, has unveiled interior design concepts for the new fleet of class 895 trains ordered for the project.
The trains will be built in Britain by the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed consortium, with bodyshell welding and electrical fit-out undertaken by Hitachi at its plant in Newton Aycliffe. Alstom will supply bogies from Crewe and perform interior fit-out at its main plant in Derby. The consortium won a £2bn contract to build 54 trains in 2021.
New design features that will help to ensure the 200m-long trains are fully accessible include step-free access at new HS2 stations, reprofiled grab handles, audio announcements and passenger information screens in toilet cubicles.
Other design features include:
- generous seat pitch, with more leg room than any other standard class train operating in Britain, according to HS2 Ltd
- improved overhead and underseat luggage storage, recognising that passengers prefer to have their possessions close by
- baby changing tables, clothing/bag hooks and a pull-down child seat in toilet cubicles, reflecting feedback from families travelling with small children
- seats with a spacious tray table and a separate shelf to stand phones on when viewing video content
- multiple power and charging options, and
- horizontal bike storage, which maximises space and makes it quicker and easier for cyclists to board and alight.
“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,” says James Dawson, HS2 Ltd’s senior rolling stock engineer.
Mock-up
A wooden mock-up of carriage interiors has been used to inform HS2 Ltd of the needs of various types of passengers. It will be open to the public during the Greatest Gathering event at Alstom’s Derby plant over the weekend of August 1-3, celebrating 200 years of railways in Britain.
“As we progress towards delivering the next generation of high-speed trains for HS2, the feedback from passengers has been invaluable,” says James Grundy, project director for Hitachi-Alstom High Speed.
“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.”
The delivery schedule for the new trains has yet to be confirmed, although the first trains were originally due to be delivered in 2027. Last month it was revealed that HS2 will not open between London and Birmingham by 2033 as planned, with no alternative date yet announced.
