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

[mansonlo49]

A path is in tomorrow (Friday) from Merchant Park to Wembley.
As there is no path for a loco to Merchant Park, I presume this will be for 805006 which was on the test track yesterday.

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 0920 Merchant Park Sidings to Wembley Inter City Depot | 14/03/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 0920 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Wembley Inter City Depot on 14/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

shd be 805006，these hv diesel engines while 807 doesn’t, that’s why is routed south of York on way to Leicester and not all the way via Scotland

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

There is also the matter of 800705, which was delivered a few weeks ago and still to enter service I believe.

807005 is at Wembley InterCity Depot (XWF) currently. It is yet to enter service

 

[DJH1971]

807005 is at Wembley InterCity Depot (XWF) currently. It is yet to enter service

Must not be too far off entering service. We're getting closer to the May timetable after all.

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

Must not be too far off entering service. We're getting closer to the May timetable after all.

Yep, seems like it. Also, 807009 and specially liveried 807010 will enter service around May. 807010 will not enter service until Avanti announce an official press release/media launch on its new livery.

 

[800001]

Yep, seems like it. Also, 807009 and specially liveried 807010 will enter service around May. 807010 will not enter service until Avanti announce an official press release/media launch on its new livery.

Presume the launch of the liverie is being done at Aycliffe? Otherwise it will be seen by every man and dog on its route down the full length of WCML when it gets delivered?

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

Presume the launch of the liverie is being done at Aycliffe? Otherwise it will be seen by every man and dog on its route down the full length of WCML when it gets delivered?

Who knows…. Possibly knowing that Avanti are keeping it as a huge surprise. Would surprise me to see the launch being done in Aycliffe as the media launches are usually done on Platform 16 at London Euston.

 

[DJH1971]

Who knows…. Possibly knowing that Avanti are keeping it as a huge surprise. Would surprise me to see the launch being done in Aycliffe as the media launches are usually done on Platform 16 at London Euston.

They are certainly being rather secretive

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

They are certainly being rather secretive

I know right, all that I’ve been told is that it’s going to be quite a colourful and vibrant livery.

 

[800Travel]

Presume the launch of the liverie is being done at Aycliffe? Otherwise it will be seen by every man and dog on its route down the full length of WCML when it gets delivered?

801207 came up from like Bounds Green to Darlington, and was (as far as I can recall) not covered and leaked along the way. Launch at Aycliffe would of course minimise the risk of the livery leaking, but depends if they are too bothered. Didn’t seem LNER were

 

[800001]

801207 came up from like Bounds Green to Darlington, and was (as far as I can recall) not covered and leaked along the way. Launch at Aycliffe would of course minimise the risk of the livery leaking, but depends if they are too bothered. Didn’t seem LNER were

Bit of a difference between the LNER livery on a small part of one carriage. Compared to a full livery on 7 full coaches

 

[Class15]

Could they do a night run?

 

[800001]

I know right, all that I’ve been told is that it’s going to be quite a colourful and vibrant livery.

See post #3503 for a sneak peak!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Mar 2025 ==

Could they do a night run?

They could do, depending on paths and driver availability.

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

Presume the launch of the liverie is being done at Aycliffe? Otherwise it will be seen by every man and dog on its route down the full length of WCML when it gets delivered?

Assuming only Avanti know where or when the media launch will happen.

 

[1D54]

A path is in tomorrow (Friday) from Merchant Park to Wembley.
As there is no path for a loco to Merchant Park, I presume this will be for 805006 which was on the test track yesterday.

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 0920 Merchant Park Sidings to Wembley Inter City Depot | 14/03/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 0920 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Wembley Inter City Depot on 14/03/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looks like this is on the move. Reported 13 early at Darlington.

 

[800001]

From a source I can’t name, 807010 in its livery will move from the 2 road tent at Aycliffe at roughly 1pm, don’t know if for photo shoot or just moving inside to main building.

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

From a source I can’t name, 807010 in its livery will move from the 2 road tent at Aycliffe at roughly 1pm, don’t know if for photo shoot or just moving inside to main building.

Looks like there will be pics of 807010 in its diversity livery if that’s the case.

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

805002 now in Avanti livery.

 

[The_Train]

Looks like this is on the move. Reported 13 early at Darlington.

Is it confirmed as 805006?

 

[800001]

Is it confirmed as 805006?

Yes.

 

[The_Train]

Yes.

Thanks

Edit: Is 006 in AWC livery as well? My records have it as being in base grey

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

Thanks

Edit: Is 006 in AWC livery as well? My records have it as being in base grey

Yes, 805002 and 805006 are now in Avanti West Coast livery

 

[800001]

Thanks

Edit: Is 006 in AWC livery as well? My records have it as being in base grey

Both returned to Newton Aycliffe in grey following testing work on WCML.

002 has only just appeared this week in Avanti colours. It was grey last week.

 

[mansonlo49]

Thanks

Edit: Is 006 in AWC livery as well? My records have it as being in base grey

Got a picture of 805002 testing last year, passing Crewe fast line

 

[DJH1971]

Got a picture of 805002 testing last year, passing Crewe fast line

What is it taking it so long to enter service?

 

[800001]

What is it taking it so long to enter service?

It was one of the units that was used for test purposes.
The unit would then require being returned to ‘as new status’ ready for it to be handed over to Avanti.

Maybe more to it than that. But that’s the simple reason.

 

[mansonlo49]

What is it taking it so long to enter service?

Good question, I was wondering

 

[DJH1971]

Good question, I was wondering

Especially given that all other 805's (except 805006) are in service

 

[mansonlo49]

Especially given that all other 805's (except 805006) are in service

Yes, now just down to 002 and 006 to enter service

 

[Peter Sarf]

Good question, I was wondering

+

Especially given that all other 805's (except 805006) are in service

+

Yes, now just down to 002 and 006 to enter service

It had just been explained.

It was one of the units that was used for test purposes.
The unit would then require being returned to ‘as new status’ ready for it to be handed over to Avanti.

Maybe more to it than that. But that’s the simple reason.

Also - often one (or two) of the earliest in a fleet does a lot more testing to discover any general design weaknesses. Sometimes sent abroad to a test track or climate testing installation. Often without proper interiors so can quite often be a long way down order by the time it enters service.

 

[800001]

+

+

It had just been explained.

Also - often one (or two) of the earliest in a fleet does a lot more testing to discover any general design weaknesses. Sometimes sent abroad to a test track or climate testing installation. Often without proper interiors so can quite often be a long way down order by the time it enters service.

None of the 805 or 807 went abroad or for climate testing.
805001 had no interior fitted when testing, I think (happy to be corrected) that 002 upwards were all fully fitted out when left factory.