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Log in using your social network account OR Log in directly with The Independent {{message}} ____________________ Please enter an email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address ____________________ Please enter a valid password [ ] Keep me logged in (BUTTON) Submit Forgotten your password? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to Independent Premium. View offers Hi {{fullName}} * My Independent Premium * Account details * Help centre * Logout (BUTTON) The Azuma trains accelerate faster than any other on the network Azuma: High speed train cuts London-Edinburgh journey down to four hours The new fleet will operate on Virgin Trains' east coast service * Ravneet Ahluwalia * Friday 18 August 2017 11:14 {{^moreThanTen}} * {{total}} comments {{/moreThanTen}} * A new train has travelled from London to Edinburgh in four hours – shaving 22 minutes off the current journey time. The high-speed train is named Azuma, the Japanese word for “East”, in homage to Japanese bullet train technology and the coast on which it will operate. The vehicle is able to accelerate faster than existing trains on the network. The trip was a test run by manufacturer Hitachi prior to the roll-out of the new 65-strong fleet which will run on Virgin Trains' east coast route next year. Download the new Indpendent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines (BUTTON) Download now Virgin Trains plans to bring regular journey times down to four hours and will boost capacity out of Kings Cross by 28 per cent at peak times. Read more * Passenger satisfaction with East Coast falls after privatisation The Azuma is a nine-car bi-mode train capable of travelling on both electric and diesel power. The trains are being built at Hitachi’s facility in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Scotland’s Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, welcomed the test run. He said: “Making rail an attractive alternative is an ideal way to encourage more people out of their cars and onto greener transport. This new fleet of trains serving stations all across the north and east of the country offer more opportunities for passengers to travel by rail in the future.” David Horne, Virgin Trains’ MD on the east coast route, said: “The Virgin Azuma will deliver a step-change in services between Scotland and England, taking regular journeys down to just four hours. Having the train visit Scotland for the first time as part of testing is a really important moment and reminds us of the excitement it will bring to UK train travel when it is introduced into service.” Karen Boswell, MD at Hitachi Rail Europe, said: “Passengers and enthusiasts in Scotland will be seeing more of the Azuma trains in the coming months as part of our rigorous test programme. Our UK-built fleet harnesses world famous Japanese bullet train technology, giving passengers on the east coast main line the very best in quality and reliability.” More about Virgin Trains East Coast | rail travel | Scotland travel | Show{{#moreThan3_total}} {{value_total}} {{/moreThan3_total}} comments INDY/GO newsletter Time to Travel! ____________________ Enter your email address (BUTTON) Continue (BUTTON) Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid Email already exists. 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