Hitachi Cracks Crisis

Cracks in jacking points on Hitachi Class 80x trains led to mass withdrawal of the fleet in early May, with Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, LNER and TransPennine Express affected. Although the latter three operators were able to resume operation quickly, the situation continues to affect Great Western Railway.

 

Hitachi withdrew the entire Class 800, 801 and 802 fleets operated by Great Western Railway, Hull Trains, LNER and TransPennine Express overnight on 7/8 May after severe cracks were discovered in jacking points.

In a further development, inspections of ScotRail’s Class 385 EMUs also found cracks in the same component, leading to withdrawal of a small number of that fleet too. And to add to operators’ concerns, cracks in yaw damper mountings on some of GWR’s fleet had also been found prior to the discovery of the jacking point issues. Repairs to the trains are expected to take up to 18 months.

800 Series cracking – ORR final report

ROGER FORD

■ No independent technical investigation
■ Call for review of standards
■ Six-year modification programme
■ Four weeks out of service for nine-car set
■ Fresh crack locations emerging

ROGER FORD

Class 80x cracks to be repaired at Eastleigh

The entire Class 80x fleet is to have cracks repaired at Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh.

Hitachi cracking woes worsen

Meanwhile, Northern ‘769s’ join the New Train TIN-watch table

Passengers kept informed in Hitachi cracks crisis – ORR

The ORR says passengers were kept well informed when the Class 800 series trains were grounded.

Rolling stock cracks crisis: update

Roger Ford provides an update on the issues with underframe cracks on Hitachi 800 Series trains

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CRACKS CRISIS

Front18 MONTHS TO REPAIR ALL HITACHI 800 SERIES TRAINSJACKING...