Huber+Suhner says it has been awarded a contract by Hitachi Rail Europe to supply a range of its RADOX® cables and SENCITY® Rail antennas for use in the train control and safety systems of the Intercity Express Program (IEP) Class 800/801 trains in the United Kingdom.
Under the Department of Transport's IEP project, Hitachi Rail Europe is replacing older diesel-powered higher-speed rail (HrSR) equipment on the Great Western and East Coast Main Line routes with a fleet of 122 new Class 800/801 trains, scheduled to into service beginning in 2017.
The first pre-series Super Express Train was unveiled last month at Hitachi's plant in Kasado, Japan. It is expected to arrive in the UK in March 2015, with trials beginning in April.
Said Patrick Riederer, divisional manager for low frequency products for HUBER+SUHNER, "Our rail cables and antennas have found a wide market acceptance across the globe and we are proud to play our part in this innovative project for the UK railway network."
Hitachi Rail Europe Procurement Director Jamie Foster said, "The Hitachi Rail procurement team spent a long time looking for the best suppliers to provide high quality products, exceptional reliability and real value for money over the lifetime of our trains. With the companies we have recognized, we have found the right fit for us. We are proud that we have been able to find companies in Europe, including HUBER+SUHNER, to fulfill our requirements."