Hitachi Class 800 InterCity Express train prepares to sail to the UK

Following hard on the heels of the rollout of the first of the Class 800 trains from Hitachi’s Kasado Works in Kudamatsu City, Southern Japan, in November 2014, DCA’s Transport Sector Manager, Paul Rutter, was honoured to be present at a traditional Japanese blessing ceremony for the first Class 800 trains now bound for the UK.

The journey ahead by sea marks a major milestone in the development of the trains. When they arrive, in early March, they will be subject to an intensive test programme spanning several months to ensure their compliance with operation on the UK’s railway network.

The Japanese blessing is just one part of Hitachi’s care and attention to detail and focus on consistent, high-quality production values designed to ensure a safe journey across the seas and a long and productive service life on arrival in the UK.