Hitachi Wins UK’s Top Reliability Award for Third Year

• Lumo and Hitachi Rail awarded ‘Gold’ for reliability in the intercity reliability category

• Lumo is currently the UK’s most reliable fleet, which was built at Hitachi Rail’s factory in Newton Aycliffe

• Third year in a row that Hitachi Rail’s maintenance team has won industry’s top award for reliability

The Lumo (Class 803) fleet was awarded Gold – the highest accolade possible – in the 2^ndGeneration new inter-city category.

The 100% electric Lumo fleet was built in the North East at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe’s manufacturing facility and helped transform passenger journeys on the East Coast Mainline. It is currently the UK’s most reliable fleet.

Lumo's performance is truly exceptional. It has been ranked the No.1 fleet in the UK according to reliability figures for the last nine periods and is currently operating at a remarkable 13 times better than the UK industry average.

The fleet’s incredible reliability over the past 12 months is a result of customer collaboration, tireless work from their maintenance teams, and integration of new digital solutions.

This is the third year in the row Hitachi Rail’s maintenance team has won Gold for outstanding performance and reliability.

The Golden Spanner awards are organised by Modern Railways and are the rail industry's most prestigious awards for fleet reliability based on reliability data from the past 12 months.

Jim Brewin, Chief Director UK & Ireland at Hitachi Rail, said: “For the third consecutive year, Hitachi Rail’s maintenance team has been honoured with the industry’s highest award for reliability.

“This achievement is a testament to our strong partnership with our customers, whose daily collaboration is vital in establishing new standards in train reliability.

“A huge congratulations to our dedicated maintenance teams, whose ‘continuous improvement’ mindset and digital maintenance solutions are breaking new ground in fleet performance.”

Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Lumo, said: “This Golden Spanner award is a real reflection of the exceptional efforts of our team and those of our partners at Hitachi. It highlights the strides we’ve made in setting new standards for reliability while pioneering sustainability goals to make rail even cleaner, greener and truly customer focussed.

“Our focus remains on providing a dependable, eco-friendly service that meets the evolving needs of customers, and this prestigious recognition reinforces the value of the Lumo approach.”

Digital maintenance has played a major role in maintaining consistently high levels of train availability across the rail network. Hitachi Rail’s digital maintenance offer includes digital asset monitoring solutions, which captures information about the train in real-time. This reduces depot downtime and digitally optimises maintenance activities.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Douglas McIlroy, Hitachi Rail

+44 7548 238 140

douglas.mcilroy@hitachirail.com

Note to Editors:

• Images can be downloaded here and video here
• Lumo’s Class 803 operated on the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh, entering passenger service in October 2021.
• Lumo are part of FirstGroup plc.
• Hitachi was won Gold at the following Golden Spanners:
  • 2023 – Hull Trains (Gold) and Lumo (Silver) in intercity reliability category. Class 395 wins (Gold) in commuter reliability category.
  • 2022 – Hull Trains (Gold) in intercity reliability category.
• Three categories of trophies are awarded at the Golden Spanners: Gold for best in class, Silver for most improved over the last year, and Bronze for the lowest impact on the customer of failures.