THE first Hitachi class 802 inter-city train for Great Western Railway (GWR) services from London to Devon and Cornwall left the Japanese port Kobe on April 26 on the first leg of its sea voyage to Britain.

HITACHI Rail Europe announced on February 15 that production has begun at Hitachi Rail Italy’s Pistoia plant on the first of 36 class 802 inter-city trains for Great Western Railway (GWR).

HITACHI Rail has placed an order with Rolls-Royce to supply 136 MTU Series 1600 PowerPacks for installation on 36 class 802 trains that will predominately operate Great Western Railway services between London, Plymouth and Penzance from 2018.

 THE cost of modernising Britain’s Great Western Main Line (GWML) has risen by £2.1bn more than originally planned in 2013 to £5.58bn, according to a damning report published by the National Audit Office (NAO) on November 9.

GREAT Western Railway (GWR) launched electric suburban services out of London Paddington on September 5, when the first two of 45 class 387 Electrostar EMUs began operating peak services to Hayes & Harlington.

GREAT Western Railway (GWR) has confirmed an order for seven additional bi-mode Intercity Express Trains as part of a new multi-million pound deal with Hitachi Rail Europe leasing company Eversholt Rail Group.

BRITAIN's secretary of state for transport Mr Patrick McLoughlin launched Great Western Railway's (GWR) new fleet of Hitachi class 800 inter-city trains on June 30 with an inaugural trip on a bi-mode set from Reading to London Paddington.

FIRST Group announced on June 8 that its subsidiary Great Western Railway has finaised an agreement with Porterbrook Leasing to lease 37 new four-car Bombardier class 387 Electrostar EMUs, in addition to the eight sets already on order.

BRITAIN's Department for transport and franchisee Great Western Railway (GWR) have reached an agreement on funding a study into the upgrading of rail links between London, Devon and Cornwall.