December 2019, saw the complete delivery of the Class 385 fleet. The fleet has carried passengers over 12 million miles and has helped transform commuter travel, not just across the routes in Central Scotland that they serve, but also across Scotland’s Railway - with more seats and shorter journey times.
Designed and built specifically to improve journeys on Scotland’s busiest routes, the trains offer a spacious and modern interior, increasing capacity with over 168 extra seats per train.
This modern, electric fleet is part of ScotRail’s £475 million rolling stock investment, and their introduction follows the £858 million electrification of the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow by Network Rail in the UK.
Currently, the Class 385 is Scotland’s fastest train from 0-60mph, cutting journey times to 42 minutes between Scotland’s two major commercial and economic hubs.
This sustainable fleet produces zero emissions, improving air quality in train stations and contributing to Scotland’s world pioneering 2045 ‘net-zero society’ climate change target.
Introduced in 2019 as the new flagship train for Seibu Railway and named “Laview”, this iconic looking train is defined by the view through windows measuring 1,350 mm x 1,580 mm, designed to maximise viewing opportunities.
These huge, curved windows provide passengers with panoramic views along the way to enhance passenger experience and ensure a comfortable and enjoyable ride.
The train’s rounded front has a windshield made of three-dimensional glass, whilst the reflective exterior is finished with a specially-created aluminium paint that merges gracefully with the train’s surroundings while in operation.
The “Laview” has been created with passengers at the heart of the design and build.
The interiors feature soft yellow seating with an adjustable headrest and armrest table to provide a comfortable feeling – like being in your own home. The LED lighting adjusts throughout the day, and has been devised to generate a calming atmosphere for commuters.
The trains operate with eight cars offering 422 seats, and the design speed is 120 kilometres per hour.
The "Blues" trains derive from the Masaccio platform and are equipped with diesel-electric propulsion integrated with batteries that make the train a hybrid-bimodal solution, that can also run without electrification.
These new vehicles are record-breaking in terms of performance and sustainability as they are equipped with new-generation and low-emission diesel engines (Stage V) integrated with batteries allowing emission and noise reduction.
The trains can run up to 160 km/h on electrified lines with great travel time savings.
On-board technologies include: smart air-conditioning systems capable of adapting to internal conditions such as temperature and the number of passengers on board, LED systems that contribute to save energy, video surveillance for improved safety of passengers, WiFi connection, electric and USB plugs and space for bikes and baggage.
A dedicated area and toilet are available for people with reduced mobility who can also benefit from enhanced ease of access.
Contracts
The Blues framework agreement includes the supply of up to 135 diesel-electric regional trains in 3-car and 4-car configuration.
Currently, Hitachi Rail has signed call-off contracts for a total of 43 trains to be operated in the Italian regions of Sardinia (8 trains), Sicily (17 trains), Val d’Aosta (4 trains), Lazio (3 trains) and Tuscany (11 trains)
Caravaggio is the new Hitachi Rail platform of high-capacity trains and are the result of the best technologies developed across the Hitachi Group. They are fully assembled in Italy and draw upon 20-years of manufacturing experience of developing over 200 electric trains and 700 passenger cars, all of which are double-deck, and in operation on the Italian rail network.
The innovative architecture, characterised by light alloy cars, well-distributed power traction and wide volumes available for the passenger compartments offers unique performance in the marketplace in terms of:
- Weight for passengers.
- Transport capacity for unit length.
- Energy consumption for passenger/km (30% less compared to the most recent electric trains circulating in Italy).
These trains are designed to be:
Comfortable: enhanced passenger experience thanks to features including LED lighting, WiFi connection, 220V and USB plugs, bike stations and electric plugs to recharge e-bikes
Accessible: eased accessibility for people with reduced mobility by movable platforms to cover the distance between the doors and the train platforms
Sustainable: reduction of 30% of electric consumption and of noise, presence of regenerative braking and the use of innovative recyclable materials (85%) and renewable ones (95%) that help to further reduce the train’s weight.
Contracts
In September 2018, FERROVIENORD (FNM) and Hitachi Rail signed a Framework Agreement for the supply of new high capacity regional trains. The minimum guaranteed supply quantity is 50 trains: 30 trains in short configuration (4 cars) and 20 trains in long configuration (5 cars); the maximum quantity is 120 trains. In addition to the Framework Agreement, the companies signed a first firm contract for the supply of 30 trains in short configuration.
Caravaggio is the new Hitachi Rail platform of high-capacity trains and are the result of the best technologies developed across the Hitachi Group. They are fully assembled in Italy and draw upon 20-years of manufacturing experience of developing over 200 electric trains and 700 passenger cars, all of which are double-deck, and in operation on the Italian rail network.
The innovative architecture, characterised by light alloy cars, well-distributed power traction and wide volumes available for the passenger compartments offers unique performance in the marketplace in terms of:
- Weight for passengers.
- Transport capacity for unit length.
- Energy consumption for passenger/km (30% less compared to the most recent electric trains circulating in Italy).
The double-deck high-capacity trains purchased by Trenitalia will enter into revenue service with the commercial name “Rock”.
Rock marks a significant evolution of double deck high-capacity trains circulating in Italy, especially in terms of reliability, energy saving and performance, with acceleration that can be compared to a metro train.
This is a new concept of commuter train with innovative technical features in terms of reliability and comfort and accessibility. The trains also feature a large space for baggage and bikes and a technological information system onboard.
Contracts
In August 2016, Hitachi Rail and Trenitalia signed the Framework Agreement for the supply of up to 300 new double-deck high-capacity trains. At the same time, the two parties signed the first supply contract for 39 trains to be produced for the Emilia Romagna region: 25 vehicles in long composition (ETR521) and 14 trains in short composition (ETR421), followed by other supply contracts signed with other Italian regions: Veneto (47 trains), Liguria (28 trains), Tuscany 1° batch (four trains), Lombardy (five trains), Lazio 1° batch (17 trains), Lazio 2° batch (seven trains), Emilia Romagna 2° batch (four trains), Tuscany 2° batch (seven trains), Marche (two trains) and Campania (five trains) for a total amount of 165 already-ordered trains.
The first Rock for Emilia Romagna entered into revenue service at the end of May 2019. In February 2018, Hitachi Rail and Trenitalia signed an amendment to the Framework Agreement to also supply a new train composition (ETR621).
The CDPTR railcars – Carrozze Doppio Piano Trasporto Regionale (double deck railcars for regional transport), called “Vivalto” by Trenitalia, is a highly innovative double-deck train characterised by comfort and enhanced user experience.
The six-car consist, five trailer cars plus one motor car, has 725 seats and, considering the additional space for standing passengers, has a total transport capacity of 1,300 passengers.
These trains can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h. They have high levels of comfort, safety and accessibility are connected to the maximum availability of the interior space, with large glass windows bestowing high visibility and clarity to the interior of the cars.
They are equipped with a next-generation fire-fighting system as well as a video surveillance system for real time visualisation of images on the onboard monitors.
Recently the trains have been upgraded with the latest generation ERTMS signalling system and a closed circuit toilet.
Contracts
The CDPTR railcars – Carrozze Doppio Piano Trasporto Regionale (double deck railcars for regional transport) – are an important contract for the production of 706 cars (126 motor cars and 580 trailer cars) for Trenitalia: the 350 cars of the base contract signed in 2010 were followed by a further 356 of three subsequent option contracts (November 2013, March 2015 and November 2015).
