Designs unveiled for new InterCity trains

Video. ITV News can exclusively reveal the final designs of a new generation of InterCity trains soon to take to the tracks across the Thames Valley. Work is underway on the first of hundreds of new bullet-style carriages in Japan for Great Western trains at a cost of almost £6 billion.

The trains will run on the mainline from Paddington through to Reading, Didcot, Newbury, Swindon and Oxford. Full size mock-ups of several carriages were secretly built to get the views of watchdogs and the rail industry and the final design is about to be approved by the Government.

Mike Pearse was given exclusive access to see the train of the future. He spoke to Andy Barr from Hitachi Rail Europe, Managing Director of First Great Western Mark Hopwood and Stephen Hammond MP, Rail Minister.

ITV News can exclusively reveal the final design of a new generation of InterCity trains soon to take to the tracks on the Great Western mainline to Reading, Didcot, Newbury, Swindon and Oxford.

Built by Hitachi they're based on the Japanese bullet train and will have more seats to ease overcrowding and are six times more reliable. The trains are part of a six billion pound upgrade. ITV Meridian spoke to the MD of First Great Western, Mark Hopwood.