Bombardier to build 'most advanced' trains for HS2

Credit: Bombardier/Hitachi

Designs for the trains that could run on the HS2 rail link between London and Birmingham have been released for the first time.

Derby-based manufacturer, Bombardier, has submitted a joint bid with Japanese firm, Hitachi.

They say their design will be the 'most advanced, customer-orientated train ever to run in the UK'.

The trains will be able to reach speeds of up to 225mph and can seat almost 1100 people - nearly double the number of seats as the longest Pendolino trains in operation today.

Europe's fastest trains are built by Hitachi and Bombardier. Credit: Hitachi

The contract, worth £2.75billion, is to design, build and maintain at least 54 trains for Phase One of HS2.

Both companies have previous experience designing trains, with Hitachi having pioneered Japan’s Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’ and Bombardier operating in Europe and on the world’s largest network in China.