Manufacturer Hitachi | Family name A-Train | |
 | ||
In service 2015 (testing)
2017 (passenger service) Built at Hitachi Kasado (pre-production)
Hitachi Newton Aycliffe (production) Replaced InterCity 125
InterCity 225 Number under construction 34 x 9-car sets
46 x 5-car sets | ||
The Class 800 Super Express is a type of electro-diesel train to be used in the United Kingdom, based on the Hitachi A-train design. They are to be built by Hitachi from 2015. The first units will be delivered for the Great Western Main Line (GWML), beginning service there in July 2017 and on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) from 2018. These trains will be built at Hitachi's purpose-built facility at Newton Aycliffe, alongside the related electric multiple unit Class 801.
Contents
Background and design
As part of the UK Government's Intercity Express Programme, the Class 800 units are to be partial replacements for the aging InterCity 125 trains which currently operate services on the Great Western Main Line and the East Coast Main Line. The Class 800 units will be electro-diesel multiple units, able to draw power from electrified overhead lines where available and power themselves via underfloor diesel generators outside the electrified network. The train specification requires that this changeover can occur at line speed. The trains can be converted to electric-only operation by removal of the diesel engines.
Fleet details
A total of 80 sets will be constructed, with 36 five-car and 21 nine-car units intended for operation with Great Western Railway, plus 10 five-car and 13 nine-car with Virgin Trains East Coast.
In March 2016, Virgin Trains East Coast announced that its Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains would carry the brand name Azuma, the Japanese word for "East". In June 2016, Great Western Railway announced that its IEP trains would be known as Intercity Express Trains.
In July 2016, it was announced that GWR's intended fleet of Class 801s were to be converted from pure EMUs to bi-mode units due to delays in the electrification. Subsequently these were reclassified as Class 800/3. The original 1.35 m3 fuel tanks will also be replaced with larger 1.55 m3 tanks.
On 30 June 2016, GWR's test IEP (800004) ran from Reading to London Paddington carrying invited dignitaries. Driven by GBRf the dignitaries were not permitted to leave their seat for the duration of the journey as the train was still subject to testing. The GWR units will enter service from July 2017.