Hitachi new trains fiasco.

[kenneal - lagger]

I noticed the other day while waiting for the local level crossing to open that a non GWR livery train came through and stopped at Thatcham station so it was "in service". They are obviously still waiting for their Hitachi trains to re-enter service.

[adam2]

Ongoing, about one third of the new train are still out of use due to cracks, no timetable for repairs.
Services still reduced.

One of the many other design faults of these new trains is the failure to cope with waves along the sea wall at Dawlish. Today at least two of the new trains have been "drowned" by high seas at Dawlish.
The conditions are admittedly extreme, but it was an "essential requirement" that the new trains be designed to cope with these conditions.

[kenneal - lagger]

I hope GWR are getting a significant pay back from Hitachi over this. It must have cost GWR a fortune which shouldn't go on ticket prices.

[adam2]

I hope GWR are getting a significant pay back from Hitachi over this. It must have cost GWR a fortune which shouldn't go on ticket prices.

I would be very surprised indeed if Hitachi are actually paying anything for this. They have very good lawyers who have no doubt found some wiggle room whereby both the cracks and the failure to perform at Dawlish have become customer problems rather than supplier problems.

A currently popular phrase used by GWR Is "we are working very hard alongside our industry partners to overcome the challenges" No mention of saying to to Hitachi "you made them, you fix or replace them, and pay for the non availability meanwhile"