Hitachi A-train

A-train is Hitachi's brand name for rail rolling stock built and designed using a set of technologies including car-bodies manufactured from friction stir welded double skin aluminium extrusions with built-in mounting rails for sub-assemblies, and self-modular construction using supporting sub-modules. The stock is designed to facilitate a number of product life-cycle improvements including ease of manufacture, increase in energy efficiency, and recyclability.

The "A Train" design concept includes several elements: the primary feature is the vehicle car bodies constructed from double skin aluminium extruded sections which are friction stir welded, other features of the design are hollow extruded mounting rails on the vehicle body to which modular components are attached.

Initially the A-train family consisted of multiple units designed and built by Hitachi, initially for use on the railway system in Japan. The A-train family comprises trains for both commuter services and limited express services. Hitachi has given the family a modular design which enables both production and refurbishment to be undertaken faster. The A-train's strong body is the result of the use of revolutionary technology called friction stir welding (FSW). Due to the low heat input of this patented process high strength, excellent crashworthiness and minimal distortion can be achieved.

Hitachi has provided a number of trains based on the A-train concept for use in Japan:

Hitachi have been marketing the A-train family overseas. Both the Chongqing Monorail in China and the Sentosa Express Monorail in Singapore utilise A-train derived cars. However, Hitachi's first major conventional rail order outside Japan came when Southeastern ordered a total of 29 EMUs for use running the domestic services on High Speed 1 in the United Kingdom. The Class 395 units are standard gauge and designed to operate at speeds of up to 225 km/h (140 mph).

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