Hitachi eyes up France’s TGV
JAPANESE train manufacturer Hitachi is expected to bid against the French-built TGV in its home country for a rolling stock contract in a move that would target the world’s biggest rail market.
The Tokyo-based manufacturer of the 186 mph (300 kph) Bullet Train is expected to offer the latest Shinkansen-series model in a bid to acquire a contract from French rail operator, Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais (SNCF).
Hitachi, whose European sales of high-speed trains have been limited to the UK, is expected to bid against Paris-based train manufacturer Alstom.
SNCF’s concerns regarding the cost of the new rolling stock, coupled with expectations that the company will move to issue a tender for a new generation of high-speed trains as early as next year, have increased the likelihood that the rail operator will invite contract bids in 2010.
Hitachi, however, is expected to face challenges as it attempts to enter a European market that features a variety of railway systems and requirements for cross-border operations.
The Japanese company is also expected to compete for entry into the German rolling stock market, when tenders are being issued to replace older versions of the ICE high-speed train, manufactured by Siemens, the world’s largest engineering conglomerate.
On 13 December, Hitachi will celebrate the launch of its first high speed passenger journey in the UK when rail operator Southeastern introduces full passenger services on Hitachi’s Class 395 trains. The trains will slash journey times between Ebsfleet and London.