Hitachi Rail, the UK arm of the Japanese multi-national engineering giants, has won an eight-year contract to maintain the TransPennine Express fleet of 19 ‘Nova 1’ intercity trains. They were well placed to win the contract, since the units are part of Hitachi’s own 800-series, derived from their in-house “A-train” design. Their after sales service is worth 240 million pounds (380 million euro) and will ensure the continued maintenance of the highly reliable fleet until 2031. That figure though could be dwarfed if plans are revived for a redevelopment of rail infrastructure goes ahead in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the city at the heart of the route served by the trains.