Nomad Digital has announced it was delighted to have played its part in the launch of the new Intercity Express Programme (IEP) fleet after the first Great Western Railway train completed its inaugural journey.
Nomad has worked with train builder Hitachi Rail Europe which has assembled the new fleet at its manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe in County Durham. Its trains will be progressively rolled out across the Great Western and East Coast main lines over the next three years and will carry passengers from the capital as far as Swansea in the west and Aberdeen and Inverness in the north.
Nomad’s on-board connectivity infrastructure enables GWR passengers to experience a leading-edge WiFi service improving the overall passenger experience, by enabling work-on-go for the business traveler and entertainment such as media surfing and social networking for the leisure traveler.
Nomad Group CEO, Reece Donovan, said “We are delighted to have played our part in what is a huge effort from partners DfT, Hitachi and GWR to launch such a significant new service. We have worked closely with them as this IEP project has evolved to understand how our connectivity solutions can support their digital agenda by benefitting their passengers and their fleet maintenance teams. Our systems and solutions deliver on our vision to connect everything on the train and we are delighted Hitachi and GWR share that digital vision and we hope to work with them long into the future.”
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said “This Government is investing record amounts to modernize Britain’s rail network and give passengers the faster, more comfortable trains and the better journeys that they expect.
“These new state-of-the-art trains show our commitment to put passengers at the heart of everything that we do and will carry people across Britain, from Swansea to Aberdeen and London to Inverness.”
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said “Today, we at GWR are once again making history, as we launch the first new Intercity Express Train in almost 40 years – and continue our journey to revalue rail in the hearts and minds of the travelling public.
“I am delighted to have this first train in passenger service. Over the next year we will continue to expand the operation of these new trains, including the introduction of another fleet specific to Devon and Cornwall.”
The Government-led IEP, funded by Agility Trains, has brought together Hitachi Rail, GWR, Virgin Trains East Coast and Network Rail to design, develop and build the new class of state-of-the-art, modern trains and supporting depot infrastructure for the Great Western and East Coast routes.
Karen Boswell, managing director, Hitachi Rail Europe, said “We, at Hitachi Rail, are really proud to have built trains in the UK, designed using Japanese bullet train technology, that are improving passengers’ journeys on the Great Western route.
“Nine years of hard work has gone into making today happen, from creating a brand-new factory and workforce, to establishing modern maintenance facilities from Swansea to London. We’ve delivered pioneering 21st century trains for passengers to enjoy and sparked a manufacturing renaissance in the North East.”
