DSC_1542 3rd October 2017 Newport
The changing face of the GWML as new units and revised liveries are slowly introduced. Hitachi 5-car Class 800/0 bi-mode IET 800013 arrived in P1 at Newport with a 3X16 test run from Reading Traincare Depot.
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. The first units will enter service on the Great Western Main Line (GWML) in October 2017, and on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) from 2018. These trains will be assembled at the Hitachi Newton Aycliffe facility, alongside the related Class 801 electric multiple unit, from bodyshells shipped from the Kasado plant in Japan (no actual body construction will take place in the UK). The Class 800 units are known by the names IET (Intercity Express Train) and the project name IEP (Intercity Express Programme). They have been given the name Azuma by Virgin Trains East Coast, one of their future operators, which means east in Japanese.
A total of 80 train sets will be constructed, with 36 five-car (800001-800036) and 21 nine-car units (800301-800321) intended for operation with GWR, plus 10 five-car (800201-800210) and 13 nine-car (800101-113) with Virgin Trains East Coast.
DSC_1542 3rd October 2017 Newport
The changing face of the GWML as new units and revised liveries are slowly introduced. Hitachi 5-car Class 800/0 bi-mode IET 800013 arrived in P1 at Newport with a 3X16 test run from Reading Traincare Depot.
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. The first units will enter service on the Great Western Main Line (GWML) in October 2017, and on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) from 2018. These trains will be assembled at the Hitachi Newton Aycliffe facility, alongside the related Class 801 electric multiple unit, from bodyshells shipped from the Kasado plant in Japan (no actual body construction will take place in the UK). The Class 800 units are known by the names IET (Intercity Express Train) and the project name IEP (Intercity Express Programme). They have been given the name Azuma by Virgin Trains East Coast, one of their future operators, which means east in Japanese.
A total of 80 train sets will be constructed, with 36 five-car (800001-800036) and 21 nine-car units (800301-800321) intended for operation with GWR, plus 10 five-car (800201-800210) and 13 nine-car (800101-113) with Virgin Trains East Coast.