Summary：MTU, a division of Rolls-Royce, has signed a contract withHitachi Rail Europe to supply additional PowerPack engin

MTU, a division of Rolls-Royce, has signed a contract with Hitachi Rail Europe to supply additional PowerPack engines for the UK’s Class 800 and 801 IEP fleets.

MTU was awarded a contract to supply 250 PowerPacks for the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) during InnoTrans 2012.

Four years later, the two companies have added around 80 extra units to that order. The additional engines are required for the Class 801 units which were converted from electric to bi-mode trains as a result of delays with the Great Western electrification scheme.

Today’s announcement also indicated that MTU will take over the maintenance of the PowerPack units from 2017 for the lifetime of the trains, providing preventive maintenance as well as repairs and major overhauls.

Quoted in a press release, Andy Rogers, projects director at Hitachi Rail Europe, said: “We look forward to continuing our work with MTU who have embedded themselves in a number of Hitachi’s sites.

“Our close working relationship with MTU will ensure the UK’s next generation of Intercity trains delivers an enhanced level of service resilience and reliability.”

Denise Kurtulus, director, Sales Services at MTU, added: “Operating the IEP trains calls for maximum operational availability and reliability, so we’re especially delighted to have succeeded in winning Hitachi over with our all-round proposition and our many years of experience in rail maintenance contracts in the UK.”