Pickersgill-Kaye, part of ASSA ABLOY, the global leader in door opening solutions, has agreed a new contract with Hitachi Rail Europe to manufacture emergency door handles for the new ‘Azuma’ trains being built for Virgin Trains’ East Coast Main Line services as part of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP).

Thousands of Emergency Egress Devices (EED) and Emergency Access Devices (EAD) will be manufactured at Pickersgill-Kaye’s Leeds facility for the Class 800 bi-mode and Class 801 all-electric vehicles being built at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe UK Rail Vehicle plant.

The Yorkshire lock maker is already supplying the multi-billion-pound IEP programme, one of the biggest rail projects in the world, EEDs and EADs for Hitachi’s AT300 trains, designed for the London Paddington to Bristol, Cardiff, Plymouth and Penzance intercity services.

In addition to the EED and EAD for Virgin Trains’ East Coast Main Line service, Pickersgill-Kaye will also supply cab door locks to secure the driver’s compartments on the 65 train sets (42 all electric and 23 bi-mode) made up of five cars and nine cars. Delivery of the safety critical units are scheduled for February 2018 through to 2019.

Pickersgill-Kaye’s passenger emergency units for the new trains comprise of a handle which when pulled activates a safety feature that alerts the driver to the operation of the devices but prevents the door being opened while the vehicles are moving.

Previous performance supplying Hitachi with products for new-build trains, such as the Class 395 Javelin™ trains for the HS1 line from St Pancras to Kent and the IEP project, means the world-renowned train builder already has experience of Pickersgill-Kaye’s quality products.

Pickersgill-Kaye’s rail products sales manager, Andy Hewitt, said: "We’re delighted to be involved in a project that will transform rail travel on the East Coast Main Line. This is another significant order from one the world’s leading train builders that will see more than 2,000 of Pickersgill-Kaye’s emergency door handles feature in the new vehicles when they enter service."

Pickersgill-Kaye now forms part of ASSA ABLOY, an international group of companies which bring innovative products that will extend the global reach of its range of rail locks and security locking systems.

With over 150 years’ experience supplying the rail industry with door locks, Pickersgill-Kaye’s manufacturing flexibility and commitment, now with the considerable support of ASSA ABLOY, will help the company win even more business against often tough overseas competition.