HICSE was formed in September 2015 following Network Rail’s award to Hitachi Rail Europe of the contract to supply a Traffic Management System (TMS) for the Thameslink Core.  Prior to this the company was called The Railway Engineering Company (TRE) which was acquired by Hitachi in 2012.

TRE supplied signaller training and assessment simulators as well as automatic routing systems, products which complement and support Hitachi’s product portfolio in the European Traffic Management Railway (TMS) sector.

Hitachi

As a company that’s been focused on social innovation since its inception, Hitachi has an illustrious history of developing leading edge technology and innovative products that enhance lives, improve communities and inspire action.

In 1910, Hitachi was founded as a mining machinery repair shop. At a time when Japan was relying on imported products and technology, one team chose to rely on a different resource, themselves.

They began to develop and deliver original products and technologies bound by Hitachi founder Namihei Odaira’s belief that they should “Contribute to society through the development of superior, original technology and products”.

TRE

Founded in 2000 by three signalling engineers to provide consultancy services to the rail industry, TRE very quickly gained a reputation for efficient product and project delivery with companies such as Westinghouse Rail Systems (now Siemens).

Following the Cullen Report (which highlighted failings in signaller training that had contributed to the Ladbroke Grove Accident) TRE developed the first signaller training simulator (TREsim) which was installed at Network Rail’s new  IECC at Slough in September 2001.

Although separated by 90 years there are many similarities between the founders of Hitachi and TRE, they each had a desire to supply original products and technologies that would provide a positive benefit to society.