First look inside UK's new £2bn high speed trains with underseat luggage storage and the ‘most comfortable seats ever'
In Derby, this weekend, train enthusiasts will be able to step aboard a full-size model of HS2's new Class 895 train at Alstom's Litchurch Lane Works.
3
The replica carriage is part of 'The Greatest Gathering', a landmark event celebrating 200 years of the British railway, offering visitors a first-hand look at what the future of rail travel might look like.
The sleek new interiors have been developed by HS2 Ltd, the West Coast Partnership and the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed team.
The full contract to design and build 54 trains is worth around £2billion.
These trains are expected to run at speeds of up to 360 km/h, and will be able to continue beyond the HS2 line on existing tracks to Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
Each one is designed to be among the fastest, quietest and greenest trains in the world.
Inside the carriage, the standard class seats promise what HS2 calls 'market-leading' legroom at 87 centimetres.
Passengers will also get USB-C and 3-pin charging sockets, dropdown tables, small shelves for devices, and handy coat hooks.
The seats recline without tipping backwards, thanks to a clever sliding mechanism, a much-needed upgrade for passengers fed up with stiff, upright seating on older UK services.
This public unveiling marks the first time people can physically experience the carriage design after concept images were released in late 2024.
It comes at a crucial time for HS2, which has faced rising public pressure and political scrutiny over its soaring costs and long delays.
Officials hope the new trains will help restore some excitement around a project that has often struggled to win hearts or headlines for the right reasons.
Recent HS2 stories have highlighted both progress and pain. In London, major milestones have been reached at Old Oak Common, the capital's new £2billion 'super station'.
New 400-metre platforms have been laid and work is ramping up to prepare the site for up to 250,000 passengers a day.
But in stark contrast, residents in places like Burton Green, Warwickshire, say the rail line has brought nothing but chaos.
A 700-metre tunnel has sliced the village in half, and locals complain of years of noise, disruption and falling house prices, many say the project no longer benefits them in any way.
Earlier this summer, The Sun revealed that HS2 bosses were blowing £1,200 a month on tropical office plants while project costs continued to climb.
The London to Birmingham section alone is now expected to cost between £49bn and £67bn, with £27bn already spent.
3
It's just one of several recent examples that have drawn criticism over how taxpayer money is being used.
The line itself is now far behind schedule.
Originally pitched as a Y-shaped high-speed network linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, the project has been scaled back to a single leg between London and Birmingham.
Even this stretch isn't expected to open until at least 2033 — more than ten years behind its original target.
HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Wild recently told MPs that early mistakes, including awarding major civil engineering contracts before final designs were ready, led to ballooning costs.
The price of civil works has risen from £19.5bn to £26bn.
Wild says the project is now in a full reset phase, with delivery teams being rebuilt and construction work only moving forward when designs are fully mature.
Still, there are bright spots.
The 3.4km Colne Valley Viaduct, one of the project's most visible feats, is nearing completion after years of careful work.
The twin-bore Chiltern Tunnel was completed earlier this year, and the enormous Northolt Tunnel under west London broke through in June 2025 after four giant boring machines worked for months to finish the job.
So while passengers can now glimpse the inside of HS2's trains — and enjoy a seat that might finally deliver comfort at speed — the reality is that the journeys they're built for are still a long way off.
3
The trains may be ready, but the track ahead remains far from clear.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Martin Lewis explains how to claim car finance mis-selling compensation as FCA predicts payouts worth up to £950
Financial expert Martin Lewis has advised on the next steps for drivers who were mis-sold car loans, after a financial regulator said the industry could pay out up to £18bn in compensation. The Financial Conduct Authority is launching a compensation consultation which will determine how much is paid out to millions of people who paid more interest than they knew about. A Supreme Court ruling on Friday (1 August) found that lenders are not liable for hidden commission payments in car finance schemes, a decision which means most of the claims will not go ahead, but only the most serious claims will be eligible for compensation. But many cases in a separate strand of the car finance mis-selling case, which was not part of the Supreme Court ruling, are still likely to receive payouts, Mr Lewis explained. Am I eligible for the compensation scheme? Mr Lewis explains that there are 'two strands' of the car finance mis-selling case. Discretionary Commission Arrangements (DCAs), which Mr Lewis says will be the main form of compensation to come out of the consultation, were not involved in the Supreme Court case, he said. 'The one most people have complained about wasn't involved in the Supreme Court decision, although it was on hold just in case anything in that decision caused a wobbler for DCAs,' Mr Lewis added. DCAs were banned in January 2021, so anyone with a personal contract purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase (HP) deals before then, is likely to have unknowingly agreed to one. 'It is when you went to a car broker or dealer and it increased the amount of interest that you were charged to increase the amount of commission without telling you,' Mr Lewis explained. Those who had PCP or HP deals are 'likely to get compensation under this scheme'. But Mr Lewis notes that those who had 0 per cent interest, or whose commission was very small, are unlikely to receive compensation. But he says that for most people, the compensation will be in the hundreds of pounds. The other strand of the mis-selling case is the one element of the Supreme Court case which was upheld by the court - with the other two being dismissed. This refers to commissions which were 'manifestly unfair', Mr Lewis explained, adding that it is harder to define because it was done on a case-by-case basis. Factors in the payout may even include how vulnerable you are - and whether it is therefore seen as more unfair for the commission to have been so high. As this is done case-by-case and it is not a blanket issue like the DCA cases, it is unclear how the compensation scheme will work for these, Mr Lewis said. What should I do next? For those that are unsure whether they are eligible, Mr Lewis advises putting in a complaint to see whether you had a DCA. 'If you're one of those people who have already had a letter saying that your car finance firm, after you complained, won't deal with it until December this year, that will almost certainly be delayed until next year,' he said. The FCA is advising consumers who believe they may have paid too much should complain now, and advise against using Claims Management Firms (CMC) or law firms, which could cost up to 30 per cent of any compensation fees received. Lenders will have to contact customers, and either automatically pay out consumers or consumers will have to opt into a scheme for compensation, meaning receiving compensation will be 'very simple to do', Mr Lewis explained. Therefore, CMCs and law firms could take 30 per cent of the compensation without doing any work. Mr Lewis' money advice website MoneySavingExpert offers a free tool which will do a template complaint for you for DCAs. How much could I be compensated? The FCA estimates that most individuals making claims will receive 'less than £950 in compensation per agreement'. The final cost of a compensation scheme will depend on the final design which it takes, the FCA added in its statement earlier today. The first payments are forecast to be made in 2026. For DCA cases, the maximum you could receive is all of the commission you paid, Mr Lewis said. It is more likely you will be paid the higher interest rate you were charged minus the standard interest rate. A simple interest - meaning the interest is calculated on the original amount of the loan - of roughly 3 per cent per year will be added on top of the payout, Mr Lewis added. 'The very high likelihood is that many people who had a discretionary commission arrangement where they were charged more interest than they should have been will get back a chunk of that in the hundreds of pounds at some point in 2026,' he said. But the expert warned that the industry could 'fight this hard', before he urged industry members to accept the 'fair compromise'.
The Sun
6 minutes ago
- The Sun
B&M slashes price of garden décor buy that elevates your space – it's perfect for summer evenings
B&M shoppers can pick up a budget-friendly decor buy that is guaranteed to brighten up their garden. And this affordable item is currently available at the lowest price ever. 2 The bargain retailer has slashed the price of the product by a whopping 33%. And as well as saving a third on the price, homeowners will want to have this item for the functionality alone. The Modern Solar Table Lamp is the perfect piece for anyone planning on hosting a summer barbecue. And it is now available for just £1, reduced from £1.50. Product details According to the product description, this buy "makes a stunning addition to your outdoor furniture". Manufacturers added that it is "great for providing a warm white LED light at night". And it even features a rechargeable battery, meaning it won't cost you a penny to run. Measuring 21 centimetres tall, this decor item is perfect for any patio table. So whether you're hosting a soiree or enjoy dining al fresco, this is the ultimate bargain buy. You can even extend your summer get together late into the night with this handy lamp. Watch the moment home owner walks over their new-build's lawn and shows how landscaping turned it into a water bed Expert opinion And according to experts at the Alaster Anderson Group, lighting can do wonders to transform your outdoor space. "Carefully positioned outdoor lighting ideas can play a central role," the pros explained. "Drawing attention to the texture and shape of plants or decorative features, and creating a sense of depth and space with the interplay of light and shadow." As well as adding lights to your patio set-up, you can also use them to brighten eyesore walls and line paths. More on gardening One homeowner turned their garden into a Bridgerton paradise with a charity shop find. B&M has also slashed the price of its viral rattan sofa in a huge garden sale. Plus, the £1 Tesco buy that can protect your plants in the rainy weather. And a £3 B&M ornament adds splash of colour to eyesore walls and makes your garden look bigger. Another B&M item can be used to enhance your home's curb appeal this summer. 2
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Man United find possible solution to land battle to prevent delays to 100,000-seater new stadium project and new squad cost rules gather pace
Manchester United 's land battle with Freightliner rumbles on, but the club have a chance to ensure it does not delay their plans for a 100,000-capacity new home. Last month, Mail Sport revealed how the Premier League giants were miles apart from the owners of the rail terminal — which adjoins Old Trafford and is key to the project — over their valuation of the land. United sources, who believe the land is worth £40million, feel the company are attempting to cash in with a significantly higher valuation, and one solution could be a compulsory purchase order. However, Inside Sport understands United could acquire a portion of the land, which would allow them to build the stadium, then buy the rest down the line. United are hoping to be in their new home PSR OUT? PLANS to replace existing financial rules with a Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) — where the amount clubs can spend on wages and transfers is limited to a percentage of their revenue — appear to be gathering pace. Championship clubs will vote on Monday on whether to introduce mandatory reporting — which would force teams to submit financial information so the EFL can assess the potential effect of replacing profit and sustainability rules with SCR. The latter has already been adopted by UEFA. Championship clubs can currently lose up to £39m over a three-year period. EFL RECEIVE APOLOGY Sheffield Wednesday's supporters' trust have apologised to the EFL for making derogatory remarks about the organisation during a meeting of fans last week. The two groups have met recently to discuss the developing crisis at Wednesday under the ownership of Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri. As Mail Sport reported, there are concerns Sunday's season opener at Leicester City could be under threat, although club sources are confident it will go ahead. Tensions are understandably high, and it is to be hoped a solution is found as soon as possible for an institution of English football. PREMIER LEAGUE AND PFA BLASTED Football Families for Justice (FFJ) — the campaign group calling on the sport to tackle its dementia crisis — have blasted a report released by the PFA and Premier League into the impact of the Football Brain Health Fund. The document hails the achievements of the fund, which has seen £2.3million allocated to 153 families since its launch in September 2023. John Stiles — son of World Cup winner Nobby, who died after a battle with dementia — described it as 'shameful'. 'The shocking report confirms the fund will only provide care after the player and family have secured whatever can be provided by the local authority and NHS, meaning the taxpayer and the players and families will generally pay for the care they need,' the former Leeds and Doncaster man said. 'The report is sly, smug and superficial. To have spent under £670,000 on care home costs over the two years is an appalling failure bearing in mind the refusal of the fund to provide the requisite care to the likes of Gordon McQueen, Jimmy Robson, Joe Kinnear, Chris Nicholl and many other very vulnerable ex-players. 'It is staggering to see (PFA chair) Maheta Molango's annual salary of £650,000 is only slightly less than the amount spent on care home costs over two years.' FFJ's campaign has secured assurances of support from the Prime Minister and Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. QATAR SHAKE UP 2036 RACE QATAR caught their Indian rivals — and the International Olympic Committee — off guard with the announcement of their bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Qatar are clearly keen for a competitive race, like the good old days when London and Paris duked it out for the 2012 Olympics. Since then, the IOC have attempted to control the bid process, moving it from an election to a selection — which hurt Qatar's previous bid. But with new IOC boss Kirsty Coventry's commitment to review the process, Qatar seem keen to set the agenda, and will be a force to be reckoned with for India and any other bidders.
