Progress on Avanti West Coast's 805/807s Hitachi AT300 sets

[Peter0124]

How likely are we to having the 807s running by December, and thus the whole 3tph London to Birmingham?

 

[absolutelymilk]

Had a ride on an 805 yesterday from Chester which was very pleasant! The only issue was being 20 minutes late mainly due to being late out of the depot.

My partner particularly appreciated that there was no diesel fumes like on the voyager, no tilting which gives her motion sickness and generally felt much less cramped!

 

[Silver Cobra]

Spotted 807002 sat at Milton Keynes Central this morning

 

[60159]

Spotted 807002 sat at Milton Keynes Central this morning

View attachment 160267

How many have left Merchants Park?
Are they at Oxley when not working?
Maybe its the light but they look more silvery than the 805s without livery.

 

[800001]

How many have left Merchants Park?
Are they at Oxley when not working?
Maybe its the light but they look more silvery than the 805s without livery.

Just 002 and exact same base colour.

 

[60159]

Just 002 and exact same base colour.

Thank you.

 

[345 050]

Travelling on Avanti this week, is it still the same diagrams that were announced previously, about 50/50 805s/Voyagers?

 

[Boodiggy]

Travelling on Avanti this week, is it still the same diagrams that were announced previously, about 50/50 805s/Voyagers?

Should be unless there are on the day issues.
I don’t believe any diagrams are planned to change until Dec 24 TT change.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Should be unless there are on the day issues.
I don’t believe any diagrams are planned to change until Dec 24 TT change.

Strangely 05:35 Blackpool to London and it's next working 09:02 London to Holyhead seem to be set up on the reservation system as 2x221s for the next week or two, then change to 80x.

 

[poffle]

Strangely 05:35 Blackpool to London and it's next working 09:02 London to Holyhead seem to be set up on the reservation system as 2x221s for the next week or two, then change to 80x.

I think that the Voyager diagrams are timetabled so that they run by Voyagers or 805s. This has allowed Avanti to do a phased introduction as trains and staff become available.

The introduction of 807s would require the diagrams to be redone. The current Voyager/805 diagrams involved trains doing a mix of North Wales and West Midland runs at different times of day. 807s require diagrams which run exclusively under the wires so it would mean seperating the North Wales journeys from the London - West Midlands journeys.

The 805s still need to be maintained in the West Midlands so some diagrams may still involved 805s in the West Midlands especially early morning and late night.

 

[345 050]

I think that the Voyager diagrams are timetabled so that they run by Voyagers or 805s. This has allowed Avanti to do a phased introduction as trains and staff become available.

The introduction of 807s would require the diagrams to be redone. The current Voyager/805 diagrams involved trains doing a mix of North Wales and West Midland runs at different times of day. 807s require diagrams which run exclusively under the wires so it would mean seperating the North Wales journeys from the London - West Midlands journeys.

The 805s still need to be maintained in the West Midlands so some diagrams may still involved 805s in the West Midlands especially early morning and late night.

Oh no, does that mean slower diagrams.

Thanks everyone for the intel, you were spot on, 0902 to HHD is a double voyager today. Much appreciated!

 

[hexagon789]

Oh no, does that mean slower diagrams.

The new timings are already in effect.

 

[345 050]

In the end stuck behind a very delayed Liverpool service so top speed was not an issue ...

 

[AndrewE]

Oh no, does that mean slower diagrams.

Thanks everyone for the intel, you were spot on, 0902 to HHD is a double voyager today. Much appreciated!

As opposed to the 1711 Chester to Holyhead, which should have arrived as a double set from Euston, dropping one off to form the 1732 to Euston. In fact it started from Crewe as a single set to Holyhead, the 1732 Ctr - CRE was cancelled and the following 1756 Chester to Crewe 2-car was very cosy!
This train has failed to run virtually every time I have tried to use it! (and I don't understand why the 1502 Eus-HHd is shown as a "Q" path on RTT today, it's part of the basic timetable as far as i am aware)

 

[AJDesiro]

As opposed to the 1711 Chester to Holyhead, which should have arrived as a double set from Euston, dropping one off to form the 1732 to Euston. In fact it started from Crewe as a single set to Holyhead, the 1732 Ctr - CRE was cancelled and the following 1756 Chester to Crewe 2-car was very cosy!
This train has failed to run virtually every time I have tried to use it! (and I don't understand why the 1502 Eus-HHd is shown as a "Q" path on RTT today, it's part of the basic timetable as far as i am aware)

When Voyagers / 805s portion work on Avanti they run as two separate services from the outset (15:02 EUS-HHD and an identical 15:02 EUS-CTR, albeit terminating at Chester), with one marked as a Q path, I don't know why, since the Q path is rarely activated, but that's how it's been for some years. It used to happen with the Shrewsbury services before they were axed too.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

When Voyagers / 805s portion work on Avanti they run as two separate services from the outset (15:02 EUS-HHD and an identical 15:02 EUS-CTR, albeit terminating at Chester), with one marked as a Q path, I don't know why, since the Q path is rarely activated, but that's how it's been for some years. It used to happen with the Shrewsbury services before they were axed too.

Something to do with reservations I think.

 

[Elorith]

As opposed to the 1711 Chester to Holyhead, which should have arrived as a double set from Euston, dropping one off to form the 1732 to Euston. In fact it started from Crewe as a single set to Holyhead, the 1732 Ctr - CRE was cancelled and the following 1756 Chester to Crewe 2-car was very cosy!
This train has failed to run virtually every time I have tried to use it! (and I don't understand why the 1502 Eus-HHd is shown as a "Q" path on RTT today, it's part of the basic timetable as far as i am aware)

Unfortunately there was no driver for the 15:02 between CRE and HHD anyway, but seems like service disruption at Watford this evening has generated further issues.

 

[Railperf]

We are already seeing 805s running along North Wales coast with an engine out and degraded performance. So much for the improved generator sets!

 

[800001]

We are already seeing 805s running along North Wales coast with an engine out and degraded performance. So much for the improved generator sets!

Do the 805s have new type engines? I thought was just 810s with new variant?
(Forgive my ignorance not been keeping up to date with Spec)

 

[hexagon789]

Do the 805s have new type engines? I thought was just 810s with new variant?
(Forgive my ignorance not been keeping up to date with Spec)

It is the same type as used on the 810s, I imagine that's what Railperf was alluding to - nothing else in traffic uses them as yet.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The 0530 Birmingham-Holyhead, once a very reliable Voyager, is now (as today) a usually-cancelled 805.
On return it forms the busy 0853 Holyhead-Euston which is also regularly cancelled.
Sometimes the 805 runs ECS to Crewe only, picking up the Euston diagram from there.
But there is never a substitute train so Crewe-Holyhead-Crewe gets the short straw (again).

 

[Railperf]

It is the same type as used on the 810s, I imagine that's what Railperf was alluding to - nothing else in traffic uses them as yet.

I was speaking to some Hitachi engineers aboard an 805 and they said the gen sets are a refined design - but I cannot say and have not been told they are identical to those being fitted to the Class 810's.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Jun 2024 ==

And to bust the myth about these having amazing acceleration, none of the times we have recorded so far for 805's are significantly faster than those posted by 110mph Class 350's.

 

[hexagon789]

I was speaking to some Hitachi engineers aboard an 805 and they said the gen sets are a refined design - but I cannot say and have not been told they are identical to those being fitted to the Class 810's.

Fair enough; all the public info to this point has suggested they are the uprated variant the 810s are being equipped with but derated to 560kW in service.

And to bust the myth about these having amazing acceleration, none of the times we have recorded so far for 805's are significantly faster than those posted by 110mph Class 350's.

Some crew have stated they will do 0-50 in half the time a 390 takes, but how that compares with a 350 - the 350s have often been said to out do the 390s to about 80mph then the 390 pulls ahead as it were.

 

[Toby268]

I was speaking to some Hitachi engineers aboard an 805 and they said the gen sets are a refined design - but I cannot say and have not been told they are identical to those being fitted to the Class 810's.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Jun 2024 ==

And to bust the myth about these having amazing acceleration, none of the times we have recorded so far for 805's are significantly faster than those posted by 110mph Class 350's.

I think the point that has been made is that they have much better acceleration than 390s and voyagers which is true, they are almost twice as quick than Pendos up to 60. So when drivers say they have amazing acceleration; these are drivers who are comparing it to the units they’ve been driving for years and not 350s.

 

[ED73]

Is 002 the only Class 805 remaining in undercoat?

 

[DaveyJones]

Is 002 the only Class 805 remaining in undercoat?

805006 and 805007 are at Oxley in Undercoat as well.

 

[ED73]

805006 and 805007 are at Oxley in Undercoat as well.

OK. Thanks!

 

[Peter Sarf]

Is 002 the only Class 805 remaining in undercoat?

805013 arrived a few days ago at Oxley. It is the last one of the 805s delivered so I assume it is still in undercoat, probably out and about on test.

 

[DaveyJones]

805013 arrived a few days ago at Oxley. It is the last one of the 805s delivered so I assume it is still in undercoat, probably out and about on test.

805013 is in Livery

 

[800001]

805013 arrived a few days ago at Oxley. It is the last one of the 805s delivered so I assume it is still in undercoat, probably out and about on test.

805013 is Avanti Livery.
As above poster states. 002, 006, 007 are only units remaining in undercoat.