La nouvelle farce du HS2 comme entreprise avec un contrat de 2 milliards de livres construit des trains qui ne cessent de tomber en panne

A growing crisis has emerged on the UK's rail network as East Midlands Railway (EMR) faces severe disruptions caused by faulty trains supplied by Hitachi, a Japanese manufacturer with a £2bn contract linked to high-speed rail projects. The situation has escalated dramatically, forcing EMR to cut up to half of its services between London and key northern cities such as Leicester, Nottingham, Lincoln, Derby, and Sheffield. These cuts began on Monday following persistent breakdowns of the newly introduced 810 Aurora fleet, which has proven to be highly unreliable since entering service in December 2025—three years behind schedule. The Auroras, designed to operate on both electric and diesel power, were meant to replace the aging 222 Meridian fleet. However, the transition has been fraught with challenges. Technical failures have plagued the new trains, leading to widespread cancellations. Some of these disruptions have been attributed to extreme heat conditions, though officials have acknowledged that the underlying issues with the trains themselves remain unresolved. The decision to reduce services came just days before the official announcement, with EMR communicating the change at approximately 3 pm on Friday. Local leaders have expressed outrage over the situation, with Labour mayor for South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, describing the impact on residents as a “summer of chaos.” He criticized EMR for not providing earlier warnings about potential service reductions. Meanwhile, insiders suggest that the crisis could strain the government’s relationship with Hitachi, particularly given the company’s involvement in another major rail project through a joint venture with Alstom worth £2bn. Industry experts have raised concerns about Hitachi’s capability to construct bi-mode trains, which require dual functionality to operate on both electrified and non-electrified tracks. This requirement stems from the incomplete electrification of the Midland Main Line, a long-standing issue that has delayed progress on rail infrastructure. Roger Ford, an industry and technology editor at Modern Railways magazine, pointed out that EMR may have ordered a train model that does not align with the operational demands of the route, compounded by Hitachi’s lack of prior experience with such duties. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander recently visited Hitachi in Japan, expressing admiration for the company’s bullet trains and suggesting that the UK should look to emulate their success. However, Chris Howe, a freelance transport and engineering journalist, highlighted the need for scrutiny regarding both Hitachi and the government’s handling of the situation. He noted that while Hitachi has a solid reputation in train manufacturing, doubts remain about their ability to deliver reliable bi-mode models. With HS2 trains being fully electrified and developed alongside Alstom, the expectation is that Hitachi should possess the necessary expertise to resolve the current issues. The timing of the crisis coincides with Labour’s plans to nationalize the railway system under the banner of Great British Railways (GBR). EMR is scheduled to transition to public ownership once its current contract concludes in October 2026. This impending shift adds pressure on the government to address the ongoing problems with the Hitachi fleet. Experts believe that the government will seek accountability from Hitachi, potentially requiring executives to appear before parliamentary committees to explain the failures and outline corrective measures. As the situation unfolds, the reliability of the rail network continues to be a pressing concern. The failure of the 810 Aurora fleet underscores broader challenges within the UK’s rail infrastructure, particularly the complexities of integrating advanced technologies into existing systems. The coming months will likely see increased scrutiny of Hitachi’s operations and the government’s oversight of the rail sector.