Engineers working on HS2 and the West Coast Main Line are finalising designs for a new fleet of high-speed trains that promise to revolutionise the passenger experience.
In a groundbreaking project, the public has been actively involved in shaping the interiors of these 54 trains. West Coast Partnership Development (WCPD), HS2 Ltd, and Hitachi-Alstom High Speed (HAH-S) have conducted extensive user research to ensure the trains meet the diverse needs of passengers.
Since early this year, various customer groups, including those with reduced mobility, cyclists, and families, have participated in hands-on testing at the HAH-S facility in Derby. They examined life-sized wooden mock-ups of the trains, providing valuable feedback on boarding, alighting, accessibility features, and overall comfort.
Key areas of focus included:
- Accessibility: Testing wheelchair accessibility, grab rail placement, and toilet layouts.
- Passenger Comfort: Evaluating seating arrangements, café spaces, and child buggy storage.
- User Experience: Gathering insights from customer groups and a 5,000-person consumer focus group.
This extensive user development process is unprecedented in the UK and reflects HS2's commitment to delivering a world-class passenger experience. The insights gathered will inform the final design of the trains, ensuring they meet the highest standards of reliability, speed, comfort, and sustainability.
The new HS2 trains will offer:
- Unparalleled speed and reliability: Cutting travel times and improving punctuality.
- Enhanced passenger comfort: Spacious interiors, modern amenities, and accessible features.
- Environmental benefits: A fully electric fleet contributing to a greener transportation system.
As the development of these innovative trains progresses, HS2 continues to prioritise the needs of passengers and set new benchmarks for high-speed rail in the UK.
HS2 Ltd senior rolling stock engineer, James Dawson said:
“We’re designing HS2 to provide a step-change in the passenger experience so that it’s accessible to everyone – and especially to people who don’t currently think train travel is for them or don’t consider in the first place.
“I’m confident that work with both WCPD and HAH-S, plus our innovative design refinement approach, will deliver a quality product that stands the test of time.”
West Coast Partnership Development rolling stock director, Simon Aslett said:
“Together with our partners at HS2 and HAH-S, we want to produce a train that delivers the best travel experience in the UK and competes with other modes of transport. As part of our work to prepare for future operations, public testing at this stage of the programme enables us to make the right decisions for customers in this critical design phase of the project.”
Hitachi-Alstom High Speed collaborative design manager, Niall Simmons, said:
“As we progress towards delivering the next generation of high-speed trains for HS2, the feedback from passengers has been invaluable. Their insights are helping us refine the design to ensure that our trains not only meet but exceed expectations for accessibility, comfort and convenience. Engaging with a diverse range of future passengers, including those who may not typically consider train travel, has been crucial in shaping the features that will make a real difference to their experience.
“HAH-S is committed to putting passengers at the heart of every decision. By working closely with the public, we are confident that we’re creating a fleet of trains that will set new standards for intercity travel in the UK. This collaborative approach ensures that when HS2 is operational, it will deliver a transformative and stress-free journey for a wide range of people.”
Image credit: Alstom
