Fazaar1889
Member
I didn't realise the trains were already being built. It seems that's they're taking shape! The white body is already present. I wonder when the will be completed.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
A picture of a HS2 train's wires being handled in its nose
- Thread starter Fazaar1889
- Start date
- Status
I didn't realise the trains were already being built. It seems that's they're taking shape! The white body is already present. I wonder when the will be completed.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
py_megapixel
Established Member
Is that not just the front end of an 80x unit?
The tweet doesn't say anything about that being an HS2 train, it's just vague statement about benefits for the North. It's entirely possible that someone responsible for HS2's social media has added a picture of a previous Hitachi build to their tweet without realising it's not actually relevant to HS2.
The tweet doesn't say anything about that being an HS2 train, it's just vague statement about benefits for the North. It's entirely possible that someone responsible for HS2's social media has added a picture of a previous Hitachi build to their tweet without realising it's not actually relevant to HS2.
Fazaar1889
Member
Aw no, it seems you're right. If you click the alt on the picture, it just says a train being built in the HS2 train factory
py_megapixel
Established Member
Yes, I see that now. "a train in the factory where some of the HS2 trains will be manufactured" does rather seem to imply "not an HS2 train"!Aw no, it seems you're right. If you click the alt on the picture, it just says a train being built in the HS2 train factory
DanNCL
Established Member
It’s an 805 or 807 for Avanti, not a HS2 unit.
DanNCL
Established Member
Yes, joint bid with Alstom (previously Bombardier)
WizCastro197
Established Member
Is there any need for trains to begin the building process now anyway, considering HS2 (Phase 1a) isn't scheduled to open until 2029-2033?
Yes, a couple of years ago I think. However, that didn't stop this over zealous 'Proud life long Tory', from posting:
I guess they were sort of right, with the first part?
Why are they even posting this anyway (not that you should know obviously!)? Is it just to promote the North after that sham of a funding project?
Last edited:
Fazaar1889
Member
That's what I thought, which is why I posted it here. Wasn't really surprised when it was pointed out that it was, in fact, not a HS2 train
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Yes, they have (Hitachi with Alstom as sub-contractor) but there is no completed design or build plan.
It's joint working between HS2 Ltd (ie DfT) and Hitachi-Alstom (maybe with some Avanti and NR input in the operational context).
To build anything, you need "technical close" and "financial close" on the contract, and I don't believe they will reach either of these for quite some time.
It's at least 6 years before HS2 is operational, though trains could be tested earlier on NR at normal speeds.
Fazaar1889
Member
What's NR?
DanNCL
Established Member
Network Rail
Intercity110
On Moderation
network rail or national rail. (duplicate comment, please delete.)
Given that these are "classic compatible" sets, they'd need to be approved to run on the existing infrastructure anyway so I'd really hope that they are (eg) certified, driver training, and faults worked out before HS2 (infrastructure) is ready to accept them. It'd be a very embarassing situation if the railway was ready and the trains were holding everything back!
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
HS2 trains' home base will be Washwood Heath on the HS2 infrastructure.
So a captive Old Oak-Birmingham service is probably the first anticipated use of HS2 in passenger service (although that presumes no delays in opening Curzon St).
Presumably the first trains will reach Washwood Heath via the Handsacre WCML connection, but not under their own power.
Classic-compatible testing, I think, is likely on the southern ECML (much of it ETCS-fitted by then).
But clearance on WCML routes north of Handsacre must be a priority after the captive Birmingham service.
Fazaar1889
Member
What's this whole talk of classic compatible trains? I've seen it loads of times but don't the UK railways use standard gauge of 1,435 mm? HS2 tracks will be of standard gauge as well right? Unless I'm wayy off
DanNCL
Established Member
Loading gauge rather than track gauge. HS2 will be built to standard European loading gauge, which is larger than the loading gauge used on the rest of the UK network (apart from HS1). Classic compatible refers to HS2 trains that are able to run on the smaller loading gauge lines on the rest of the UK rail network. The 395s and 373s are examples of ‘classic compatible’ high speed trains for the UK.
It's possible Fazaar may not be familiar with the term "loading gauge". It means the width, height and cross-sectional shape of trains. If a train was designed to be as wide and tall as possible to fit on HS2, it would not fit on most existing lines. Such a train would be called a "captive" train. When HS2 was first planned there was a lot of talk of captive trains, but at present there are no immediate plans to build any. Since the formerly proposed Leeds arm of HS2 has been cut back to East Midlands, it remains to be seen when or whether any captive trains would be built - they could only run between London, Birmingham and Manchester. The question would also arise of where they could be built, since they would have to get from the factory to HS2.
Fazaar1889
Member
Perhaps this image will help make it clearer:
The Lime green (BR W6) is roughly the standard size for passenger trains on the normal Network Rail network.
The White Gauge (Universal) fits nearly all normal European passenger trains
The Light Blue (GB+) is how big all the bridges on HS2 will be. HS1 is also GB+.
Note the standard UK platform intrudes on all gauges except BR W6.
Apparently it's been confirmed that HS2 will have platforms to the normal UK standard and therefore UIC-gauge stock will not be able to run without rebuilding the platforms. This decision was taken to allow true step-free boarding for accessibility reasons.
Last edited:
Not the normal 915mm illustrated in the diagram or the 1115mm mentioned in the response to Lord B. (probably a typo) but 1150mm for level boarding as Heathrow Express and Crossrail have done on dedicated infrastructure (and can do because they don't have to worry about ISO containers).
Helpfully it happened/happens to be the default floor height on the three main contenders including the tender winning design and follows recent HS best practice from Japan and China.
The classic compatible units will have gap fillers that operate in two ways depending on station/platform:
a) new HS2 Level extension to fill gap at 1150mm to platform at UIC distance from rail (further away) on new HS2 infrastructure
b) angled down to 915mm for NR platform
- Status