The five-car trains will be introduced in 2022 on services from London St Pancras to Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield and Lincoln, replacing HSTs and Bombardier class 222 Meridian trains currently used on this route. Abellio says the new trains will regularly operate in 10-car-formations.

The funding package is being led by rolling stock leasing company Rock Rail and the fleet will be financed through Rock Rail East Midlands using debt from institutional investors.

Assembly will take place at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe plant in northeast England and Hitachi says it is working with 65 different suppliers in the East Midlands.

The fleet will be maintained at EMR’s existing Derby Etches Park depot.

EMR will take over operation of the East Midlands franchise from Stagecoach on August 18.

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