Hitachi high speed train maintenance depot in Ashford

Ships in the Port of Dover

23rd January 2009

A visit by the members of Castle Forum from Dover to view the new Hitachi train maintenance depot in Ashford. Three of the new Class 395 high speed trains were in residence. The depot manager, Neville Dyson, kindly treated us to an informative presentation followed by a tour of the depot. Photos of the interior of the trains were not permitted as the trains are the property of Southeastern and not yet ready for presentation to the public. The four trainsets which have so far arrived in the country have completed 35,000 miles of testing and are certified to run on every part of the Southeastern network. The remainder of the twentynine trainsets on order will be delivered from Japan over the remainder of the year and the full service will commence in December 2009. Many of the sets will be in service in the intervening period and will substitute for classic services around the network as required.

Rather blurry view of the depot entrance	Our leader poses in front of one of the high speed trains. Stores area in background.	Maintenance platforms run the length of each train	Frontal view showing streamlined nosecone
Neville Dyson expounding	Depot track switchboard	First of the class 395 001. The sliding doors are a tried and tested Japanese design in use for many years.	Three trainsets in residence at the time of the visit
All parts can be handled by one man	Inspection pits run the length of each train	Nosecone opened to access coupler	Neville Dyson and train buffs
My son-in-law Vince used to be a train guard and his old canteen is somewhere under the foundations	Streamlined form reveals ancestry - Series 400 Shinkansen bullet train was used as base for design.	Castle Forum group photo	Castle Forum group photo