Getting the Best Out of HS2

Why It Matters

Aligning HS2’s train procurement with the Pendolino replacement ensures capacity growth without costly redesigns, preserving the project’s long‑term value for UK rail passengers.

Key Takeaways

• Hitachi‑Alstom JV to deliver 54 eight‑coach, 200 m HS2 Class 895 trains
• Gibb proposes 286‑m, 750‑seat tilting trains to replace Pendolinos
• Extending HS2 trains would raise costs and cut capacity
• Tilting capability could recover up to 10 minutes on curvy WCML
• Late‑2030s HS2 WCML services align with Pendolino replacement

Pulse Analysis

The HS2 train order, awarded to a Hitachi‑Alstom partnership, locks in a fleet of 54 eight‑coach, 200‑metre Class 895 units. These trains feature a sleek interior with 504 seats, wheelchair spaces and bike storage, and are designed to run at 360 km/h on the 644‑km London‑Glasgow corridor. By keeping the original specification, the programme avoids a costly contract variation and preserves the ability to run two 200‑metre units in tandem on the Birmingham‑London segment, a key factor for meeting projected passenger volumes.

Chris Gibb, a veteran rail executive, sees the upcoming replacement of the 2002‑era Pendolino fleet as an opportunity to introduce longer, tilting trains that can navigate the curvy West Coast Main Line (WCML) more efficiently. A 286‑metre, 750‑seat tilting design would not only match the capacity of future HS2 services but also shave up to ten minutes from London‑Glasgow journeys, according to Network Rail studies. Tilting technology, exemplified by Alstom’s Avelia Liberty, adds modest weight but delivers significant speed gains on existing track geometry, reducing the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades.

Strategically, synchronising HS2’s WCML launch in the late 2030s with the Pendolino replacement maximises network capacity while limiting additional capital outlay. Gibb’s proposed timetable, featuring ten trains per hour from Old Oak Common, blends 200‑metre HS2 units with the longer tilting fleet to deliver over 8,000 seats per hour. This approach mitigates the capacity squeeze caused by the paused Handsacre link and ensures that HS2’s legacy—delivering high‑speed, high‑capacity rail—remains intact for future generations.