Inside GWR Hitachi Depot

After we visited the Hitachi Depot at Newton Ayrcliffe during 'All The Stations', they invited us to look around their Stoke Gifford (Bristol) depot to see the new Class 800 Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains up close.
The first new Class 800 train on GWR should be in service by the end of October 2017.

[@leeproudfoot9922]

Thanks for doing another interesting video. By way of contrast to the shiny new Hitachi depot, please, please, please try and arrange a visit to the Wolverton Works, the longest continuously operating railway works in the UK (since 1838). All of the old Victorian and early 20th century buildings are soon to be demolished and the ongoing railway activity will be condensed into new purpose-built workshops. It's currently operated by Knorr-Bremse who I'm sure would be happy to give you a tour. It's also the home of the Royal Train, although access to that might be a different story. Some of the older train sheds (including the original Royal Shed) have been converted into very cool housing. There's lots of railway stuff in the Milton Keynes Museum which is just round the corner too.

[@batman51]

I remember writing a leaflet for new VEP units being introduced on the South Eastern around 1970 and mentioning that they had "ergonomically designed" seats, which basically meant they were less comfortable than the trains being replaced.

[@ashleyjiscool]

At least they tried making it comfortable in comparison to there replacements Br was trying to give comfort on a 10-20 min branchline but the some of new company’s er getting spare ironing boards and reusing then with extra padding made to be as thin as possible

[@jonhigginson4096]

Ah haa, next project.....All the depots!! Fab film guys.

[@ZaphodHarkonnen]

Good comment on the toilet stuff. The lever is a good clear usability thing. Like you say it gives a big clear indication of what state the lock is in.

[@SamSitar]

Geoff when did you toilet thing start?

[@fgwHST43009]

James Sullivan those buttons are also fitted to the refurbished Sprinters and Turbos.

[@MattNav]

Woohoo ! Loved this and so good to watch you guys again ! All the stations never ends 😀

[@vintagestuffguy1998]

Nothing will ever beat the feeling of the wind in your hair as you lean out of an HST window barreling across a viaduct over a valley - best long distance trains in Europe! Also having separate locos instead of making them DMUs reduces engine noise in carriages which i certainly appareciate

[@RWL2012]

TheVintageStuffGuy1998 only 3 of the 5 cars have underfloor diesel engines. V12s totalling roughly the same power as if all 5 cars each had a straight six underneath.

[@Stephen_Pettitt]

Glad that you retain your head. Leaning out of train windows never was a good idea.

[@robhorne3048]

Great to see you guys again. All the Depots sounds like a great idea.

[@roundel52]

Oh Geoff! One of my bugbears... It's not a plug, it's a socket. You have a plug, and the train has a socket.

[@jamesbutler6253]

It's always been called a plug colloquially in British English.

[@daveedee3626]

@@jamesbutler6253 You're as wrong as Geoff is.

[@andrewholloway231]

Big thumbs up for this video. I really enjoyed it. Sincerely, I do hope the new IEPs have a long and illustrious career, just like its predecessor, the awesome HST.

[@hoochfroosch6281]

OMG soooo cool!! Thanks for the report, guys! This whole hitachi depot & trains are fascinating!!!!

[@priestland1]

You two have dream jobs, traveling the country on trains.

[@larshelmin]

Currently three dislikes.... 🤔 Alstom, Bombardier and Siemens? 😂

[@arthurlaurent2490]

You joking Alstom have made the French TGVs!!!

[@larshelmin]

What I meant with my comment was NOT that Alstom, Bombardier or Siemens makes bad trains, I meant their PR social media people are in envy of such a good video made about their business competitor and therefore disliked the video. Who else could not like it? ...Oh, I see a fourth dislike, must be Stadler then :-)

[@sonicboy678]

Bombardier certainly is amazing. Just look at the R179 order. Oh, wait...

[@seaside-dn8dp]

Alstom are indeed fine. They made fine trains.

[@al66class59]

No, maybe he intended that they’re jealous of the 800s?

[@pbsimons1]

What happened to the little clip after the credits? They're the best bit!

[@Steve-bo6ht]

Five days to wrap a train that is just incredible, the Class 800 in the GWR livery looks fantastic.

[@MaidaValeTom]

Vicki should become a train announcer 😂. They could do something like on the S Stock, where Vicki does the main announcement, and the Geoff says Please make sure to take all your personal belongings with you when you leave the train. 😂

[@Wasserfeld.]

I saw Vicki in Sydenham! Great to see another video :)

[@jimlangley840]

Just finished watching ATS documentary, looking forward to ATS redux in 2027 ! Great job, very enjoyable & informative, wish we had the history & charm on my side of the pond.

[@Mugtree]

Brilliant film. Used the new train last weekend and really love them ❤️

[@whackingbadge]

Just hearing that music brought a smile to my face :D. Love those new trains, they look super cool. Another place that you can’t see on Google Maps is Blackridge Station in Scotland. That’s because it’s so new.

[@jntrains4526]

I'm going to miss the class 43 HST. 😢 :-(

[@SamSitar]

Vicki's seat fascination is entertaining.

[@HMSDaring1]

First class seats in the 43's look much better than those, and I would have thought they would have painted them rather than wrap them. Regardless, I'm very excited to see these enter service, it'll be bittersweet to see the old 43 leave

[@JohnTalbot-k6xi]

You tell a great story (!!) Glad to see your Back ...

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszczykiewic7482]

Notice the Japanese on the door at 2:17! By the way, the class 377/6, 377/7 and 387 Electrostar trains also have the same easy-to-understand lock levers in toilets.

[@kaitlyn__L]

fun fact: it mostly just says "operation" and "control" phonetically! (both followed by the kanji for "room".) when you see a lot of katakana like that, it's usually a good bet that it's an english loanword, especially in the technology sector :)

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszczykiewic7482]

Thanks for the reply. Yes I agree that Japanese has a lot of loanwords... I love Japan's railways and I know a lot of rail-related words and phrases. I can read Kanji because it's derived from my first language 😅

[@hythesailor]

What a superb video! You are a great duo!

[@jess.thetrain]

These exact trains that are now a common sight. And KZbin now reccomends me this video

[@itz.creepy3648]

I have always known what hitachi was but I really wanted to go in there I’m glad I could see some parts as I live near there

[@nnmmnmmnmnnm]

My son loves train toilet doors. This video hit the mark.

[@ArthurRoy13]

Those are the coolest safety hats ever! The trains are kind of ok too :)

[@fgwHST43009]

Stoke Gifford IEP Depot in the middle of Filton Triangle near Bristol Parkway.

[@piedmontdistrictrailfan1741]

Y'all need to come to the USA and visit all the stations here!

[@CCA2020]

Steward signs have done: Transport for Wales Class 175 The Croydon Trams Merseyrail Class 507 & 508 X men Class 390 And more...

[@jsma9999]

Thank you for this film

[@michaelraymond8196]

fantastic video, all the stations is the best

[@davidbing4578]

Great video thanks.Just a pity for us that use Temple Meades will not benefit from the electrification for the whole journey to London.

[@Ameliathehorsegirl]

I’ve been on a train just like this when I was in England it was so awesome and fun

[@keithflockhart]

Brilliant. More please. #allthedepots, and #allthetrains please

[@MrTransportAddict]

Vicki: I’m going in the cab! Me: Vicki Pipe The Greatest Driver Ever

[@DescendantofYellowEmperor]

Kobe says 500 firms affected in steel scandal - BBC News always keep an eye on Japanese materials, designs, technologies , engineers, and especially the QAs...

[@cantbants]

Completely agree with your view on the bolt-type electronic lock Geoff, find it much more assuring I won't be exposed to the entire train carriage!

[@TravelJackJourneys158]

There look fantastic I saw one on a test only a few weeks

[@JonathanLight1]

Great episode

[@12crepello]

These trains are IET's (Intercity Express Trains) NOT IEP's. IEP is the Intercity Express Programme which is the name of the complete project, including infrastructure, to bring these trains to GWR and East Coast.

[@guypoop67876j]

12crepello IEP is the programme

[@gobears6487]

Love that this video has the whole theme tune and opening sequence... sad that the new video today - similar subject - doesn't though... 😕

[@jongmassey]

I'm still annoyed about the bi-mode fudge, the west of England and south Wales have been denied electrification for far too long!

[@james123212]

the majority of the midland mainline has also been denied electrification and theres also alot of line up north that are still diesel

[@sonicboy678]

Is it because of politics?

[@1chish]

When you burn oil or gas to create that electricity which is distributed through an inefficient wiring system that in itself costs £ Bns and burns huge amounts of CO2 to build I am not sure quite what your beef is about burning diesel fuel in trains ....

[@jameswilford5225]

How about... a. you're wrong about CO2, electric is much more efficient, b. air pollution from diesel is a huge problem and affects human health, and c. electric trains are quieter, more comfortable and accelerate faster.

[@1chish]

James - How about you pay attention to what I have written. I was referring to factors that you electric buffs never address: 1. The fact electricity is, in general, produced by burning gas / oil (even coal) and therefore produces huge amounts of concentrated CO2 that is slower to disperse and therefore allow trees and plants to synthesise. Diesel trains produce a much wider spread and very much lower amounts. They also get shut off when not in use unlike power stations. 2. Whether you run an electric train or not power is consumed (and therefore has to be created) because the OHL has to be energised and power is lost in the distribution of that electricity. Creating motion from an onboard diesel is far more thermally and energy efficient any electric system 3. Diesel trains are actually electric trains but carry their own power station 4. The carbon footprint created in the manufacture of thousands of pylons and gantries and thousands of miles of expensive copper laminate contact wire and the CO2 costs in installing and building the OHL alone kills the 'environmental' argument for electric trains. For example the CO2 created in building the GWML electrification will never be 'undone'. It is a cost that has been paid and need not have been paid 5. The visual impact on local environments is colossal. I come from the West Country and know the great Western and Cotswold lines well. I served part of my Apprenticeship in Swindon. Brunel built a railway that was almost invisible as you drive by it. It even added to the beauty that is Bath. Now we have a steel tube scarring that beautiful part of our countryside and destroyed the image of Bath. Just so you can accelerate faster? Oh by the way a Mk III / HST carriage is no noisier than a Pendolino carriage to ride in Before you lecture people on CO2 maybe look at the total environmental impact costs and not conveniently to just the IEP sat in Paddington.

[@garylumley7610]

I used to live in Stoke Gifford. Would have loved to work there!

[@RoddyJenkins]

Brilliant video as ever, guys! Guessing Vicki may now be considering a career change to become a train driver lol

[@peter_smyth]

I thought the main green colour on the trains would be paint, like a car. Also, the new non-stop Paddington to Bristol Parkway service (as of December 2019) is great.

[@nlo114]

10:45 ...'If you look on the satellite imagery it's not there'... It probably won't be there for a while, either. Reading station and general track-work was finished a while back, but google still shows images from the pre-rebuild days.

[@lammy1234567890]

Looks good! But I wish they wouldn't put carpets throughout trains like this. They retain dirt and smells and over time get stained and wear out. They need much more attention to cleaning than our train companies can give. In Japan the bullet trains have vinyl flooring (throughout standard class, at least) and they are always immaculately clean.

[@starlinguk]

lammy1234567890 I wish the seats weren't plush. They're disgusting.

[@sonicboy678]

At least these aren't being built for a metro system.

[@randolphclarke4674]

lammy1234567890 we generally only use carpet floors in intercity trains and the rural/suburban trains have vinyl flooring.

[@oliverbrelsford5472]

ALL THE DEPOTS! Now THAT should be a thing.

[@arfski]

Good video, and a good use of this channel, shame to deny 23k subscribers ongoing railway related content in the clearly successful ATS easy going style going forward.

[@channelejg5862]

8:00 ‘do you have any toilet questions?’😂😂

[@GEdgemaster]

4:11 ETCS isn't for "powering traction", it's the in-cab signalling...

[@irenec4876]

I know that the new trains of the Metropolitan of Genoa (Genova) are made by Hitachi Rail.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

State of the art trains they call them. And when you see the CCTV unit I can tell by the high amount of coaxial cable that it still uses analog cameras. Standard definition no doubt.

[@RWL2012]

Hans Roes :-O

[@francisboyle1739]

Co-ax is is used for many things. More likely those cables are for some form of high speed data connection.

[@soulbabe79]

these will be running on my local line :D

[@tommyselby]

Are you guys going to the seimens open day at Three Bridges this weekend?

[@danthefryingpan963]

Ill miss the HST's but the C800's look pretty nice :)

[@ahoyittttt7802]

You still stick by that?

[@SiVlog1989]

InterCity Express Program

[@SebastianPeitsch]

This is EXACTLY the kind of video I wanted. I wish you guys got invited to visit HITACHI in Japan. That would be so amazing!

[@AllTheStations]

We would also love it if Hitachi said "Come over to Japan..." !!

[@hawlucha2228]

Saw one of these cool monstrosities accidentally while in Taunton to see a football match!

[@AndreasP07]

The seats are nice enough without patterns ;)

[@bowlerstuff9589]

I have heard of steward signs They did the X men livery for pendo and the New Croydon tram livery

[@skintclint]

HEALTH AND SAFETY: When walking around the Hitachi workshop area.... eye protection to be worn at all times....

[@kuroushahmadi6854]

Merry christmas🎉

[@HenrysAdventures]

Are you going to do "All the depots"? I'd love it of you did! :)

[@zitzong]

ALL THE DEPOTS

[@dgattenb]

From Cardiff they will just be sprinters ... been goo to ask the question how much weight is the extra engine adding with its fuel etc, how much will this slow the train down ??

[@damo_UK]

Just seen this video, November ‘19... never mind the trains, LOVE the hats, is it wrong that I want one?!

[@MarcUK]

Toilet Story: About 2006 I was on a Virgin train from Crewe to Edinburgh and as always it was packed and people were sitting in the corridors myself included (£106 ticket and I got a floor space for 5 hours). The carriage I was in had the toilet and that corridor that sort of curved around it, this was where myself and others were. A woman in her 50's made her way past and into the toilet, a couple of minutes later a man in his 20's went past and as he got to the door somebody told him that a person was in there, but of course she hadn't locked the door so the engaged light wasn't on. The young man proceeded to press the open button and the door opened to shrieks from the woman. The man and those sitting outside got the full view of the woman sitting on the toilet. Apparently she had hit the close button twice. :-D

[@johnusher1921]

I love those hats which the Japanese company staff wear - Way cooler than baseball caps! Anyone know where we can get then - without logos preferably?

[@headforthehillsuk]

John Usher any decent safety kit supplier but they'd be a bit bulky. They are bump caps. In this case specifically with a reduced peak. Bit of padding in them and a light plastic shell. Meant as a bit of protection against knocking your head on stuff if you lose your spatial awareness working in or around tight spaces. Lighter than a proper safety helmet but won't protect against falling items in the same way.

[@thisisstuart7951]

Has anyone been watching inside Paddington station

[@hhgttg69]

that's a great idea, "all the depots"

[@mrgreatauk]

Enjoyed seeing the new trains :). Have to say though, those seats don't look very comfortable and it didn't look like there was much luggage space...

[@trainviewsyt]

I went in the cab of a 800 at paddington

[@allgoo1964]

I want one of those Hitachi hats.

[@rainbowjesster]

What's the bike storage area like? How many bikes does it carry

[@Class_05]

Yeah more content to feed my eyeballs

[@allgoo1964]

4:34 It comes with cup holder installed!! Isn't it nice? lol

[@patrickjohnstaunton1539]

The window’s updates thingy, is it contagious?

[@Finley_Stuff]

I prefer the Class 43 because I'll always get exited as it pulled in because I could open the door manually

[@colinedwicker2478]

Will you guys be visiting the new maintenance depot that's just been built at Long Rock, Penzance?

[@AlanFredPipes]

'Inspire the next...' what? Episode of All the Stations? My toilet bugbear is getting the water to come out of the tap!

[@LordInter]

how many years did he say? 2-7?!?!?! the 125 has been in service for nearly (or over) 50 years and the steam trains are still running from 1908!

[@davidprice6994]

the great Intercity 125 is my fave train.be a shame to see these go.

[@johnkerby70]

David Price quite a few of them are going to Scotland, I believe.

[@carailphotography]

GWR are keeping 20 from what I've heard, don't panic!

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

@@carailphotography but a handful of them are moving to Scotrail

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

@@johnkerby70 yes

[@TheTravelingPair]

I like the 43 as well but I think a lot will go to muesemes and maybe some to heritage rail

[@sodadrinker89]

I really want that Hitachi hat.

[@badlyfilmedproductionspres8022]

Seats still look like airplane seats... Much prefer the old mk1 or mk 2 seats

[@garethbisgrove4482]

The seats look flimsy and cheap!

[@FadeToBlack888]

how comes you spell aeroplane the American way??

[@OlanKenny]

James Carruthers MK2 on the Cumbrian Coast are incredibly uncomfortable

[@hafeezullah2874]

بہت خوبصورت ٹرین ہئے

[@trainsacrosstheuktrainspot6391]

Did hitachi let you keep the high vis jacket and the safety hat Geoff and Vicky

[@STEVEFIRE127]

Hi geoff im a really big tain fan

[@bowlerstuff9589]

Also Where is virgin depot for this train

[@eey-bee]

Great video! Nice to see rail upgrades coming, though can't deny it's a shame that, whilst they are being built in the UK, the manufacturing company (and presumably design) is not from the UK.

[@carailphotography]

Hm, rail upgrades aren't all that a good idea. I've been ranting alot on social media about how electrification is going to spoilt our railway scenes, stations (due to some foilage being removed and footbridges being replaced for the lines) and foilage on the side of the track which may add effect to your normal journey. Luckily, they haven't touched the snow hill lines yet and it seems the riviera line and maybe the cornish mainline won't get electrification. The HSt is iconic aswell and has alot of history in me (depite me not being on the surface of the planet for very long). These new (and sorry to say stupid) Class 800s have no economical neither environmental nor social benefits. The only one I can think of is that it runs on overhead and diesel. But these are more like a voyager, they only consist of 4 coaches, meaning alot of duos will be common to make up the capacity that the HST offered. Environmental: well, overhead lines are being installed causing foilage to be taken away. And social, well there's many. And don't get me started on HS2

[@eey-bee]

Thanks for the information, that's quite interesting - cynical me is thinking these were the cheapest offer made, as opposed to necessarily the best offer. I can totally understand the reasoning in regards to electrification and damage to heritage, aesthetics etc. I live not far from the London-Bristol line and for example, 'upgrading' (increasing height of) bridges crossing the railway equals massive green walls placed over the crossing. Not exactly in-keeping with the surroundings or the railway itself. That being said I will always prefer the development of public transport systems over further road development, I do wish it was managed better though, hehe.

[@abyssaljam441]

We should make a gif of that man working on the wires

[@olivergray1367]

Your at my local station!

[@jakeyyyboi8982]

Look even cooler than the 395s, TFL pick Hitachi to build the New Tube For London they seriously do manufacture great trains. #StopBombardierFavouritism #AventrasAreCrap700sAreWayBetter

[@Great_WesternTVFan]

The Hitachi didn't won the bid. Sadly. So it is either bombardier or Siemens

[@pmb9172]

Most uncomfortable seats in the UK and on GWR the food offering is dismal ,no buffet , a galley thats used on odd occasions.

[@mikerobinson700]

On the FB Live, Vicki expressed a desire to keep the Hitachi cap - did you guys get away with that?

[@ronniedio19422010]

1:16 ... A 'class 43' is not a proper train, it's a DMU power car! Admittedly, a fast DMU, but HSTs are still DMUs - a fixed set of coaches with a power car at each end as opposed to a locomotive at the front pulling some carriages - that's a 'proper train'. This has probably already been said here, but I can't be bothered to read through 'all the comments'! 🙂

[@stuartoswald1268]

It was the Class 170's up in Scotland that had the button closing round doors. Scotrail like to confuse us Scots