A NORTH-EAST company has been awarded a contract to supply on board communications technology for new trains due to be built in the region. 

Hitachi Rail Europe has selected Newcastle company Nomad Digital to fit on board server (OBS) systems for the fleet of Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains that will be built in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham from 2015. 

The OBS provides a single gateway for transmission of all operational data between the train and the trackside. Data transmitted includes information on how the train is performing, energy consumption, seat reservations as well as daily timetable information.

Keith Jordan, managing director, Hitachi Rail Europe said: “Nomad Digital is already an existing supplier for our Class 395 train as one of the leading companies in Europe for supplying OBS solutions. We are now extending our working relationship with them.

"As the IEP contract is a long-term commitment for Hitachi Rail Europe, we will be working with Nomad Digital to future-proof the technology to ensure that it will be the right solution over the duration of the contract. We are very pleased to be working with a supplier, based almost on the doorstep of our new train manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe in County Durham.”

Alexander Eriksen, group chief executive of Nomad Digital said: "Nomad truly values its relationship with Hitachi and I look forward to developing this during a successful IEP project and beyond.”