Azuma 800108 heading down to St Pancras

LNER Azuma 800108 will be heading down to St Pancras tonight to conduct what appears to be some testing. This could potentially be another option for a future diversionary route, given LNER have already tested a Liverpool Street divert...

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DimTim · 28 Mar 2025

Are we aware if the Azusa used the overhead south of Wigston at all? Either way?

Iskra · 28 Mar 2025

DimTim said:
Are we aware if the Azusa used the overhead south of Wigston at all? Either way?

I'm assuming so considering how much time it gained Northbound this morning. I managed to catch it and also the Midland Pullman at Treeton Junction:

Bald Rick · 28 Mar 2025

DimTim said:
Are we aware if the Azusa used the overhead south of Wigston at all? Either way?

It was pathed on diesel, and lost 5 minutes between St P and Kettering (Departed St P 16 early, passed Kettering 11 early). 72miles in 48 mins, average of 86mph start to pass. That is slower than the 222s.

Edvid · 28 Mar 2025

Also, use of the Mk3b OLE south of Bedford is currently capped at 100mph. Works to modify it for 125mph usage are scheduled to finish this summer, after which point clearance of Class 80x trains for electric operation on the MML may become a likelier prospect.

Iskra · 28 Mar 2025

Edvid said:
Also, use of the Mk3b OLE south of Bedford is currently capped at 100mph. Works to modify it for 125mph usage are scheduled to finish this summer, after which point clearance of Class 80x trains for electric operation on the MML may become a likelier prospect.

Is the timetable likely to be recast after that so that full advantage can be taken?

swt_passenger · 28 Mar 2025

Iskra said:
Is the timetable likely to be recast after that so that full advantage can be taken?

Doesn’t the 222 timetable already allow for 125 mph running where possible, and that was why the 810s were to run on diesel at 125 mph where they were temporarily limited by the OHLE?

edwin_m · 28 Mar 2025

swt_passenger said:
Doesn’t the 222 timetable already allow for 125 mph running where possible, and that was why the 810s were to run on diesel at 125 mph where they were temporarily limited by the OHLE?

Yes, there are sections south of Bedford where the 222s can exceed 100mph. From what I've picked up on other threads, it's likely that OLE upgrades will allow these speeds on electric power before the 810s are in regular service. Clearing the 810s may also be a stepping stone to clearing other 80x units on electric power too.

Given the lack of paths and platform capacity at St Pancras, I assume the idea would be to run a 9-car 800 in the path of a St Pancras to Sheffield, and to re-deploy the 810(s) that would otherwise be working this to strengthen some other service. I hope they don't try to run 5-car units, because St Pancras is too short for a pair of them and a single one wouldn't offer much more capacity than an 810 while still carrying diverted passengers.

ShadowKnight · 28 Mar 2025

Is there an idea of the stopping pattern of an LNER diversion on the MML?
Would it stop at any MML stations or would it be nonstop until Doncaster?

I don't think hull trains when they divert onto the MML stop anywhere until returning onto the ECML

liamf656 · 28 Mar 2025

ShadowKnight said:
Is there an idea of the stopping pattern of an LNER diversion on the MML?
Would it stop at any MML stations or would it be nonstop until Doncaster?

I don't think hull trains when they divert onto the MML stop anywhere until returning onto the ECML

When Hull Trains use the diversion they don't make any passenger calls until Doncaster (they do swap drivers at Leicester I believe) so I'd imagine LNER would do the same

edwin_m said:
Given the lack of paths and platform capacity at St Pancras, I assume the idea would be to run a 9-car 800 in the path of a St Pancras to Sheffield, and to re-deploy the 810(s) that would otherwise be working this to strengthen some other service. I hope they don't try to run 5-car units, because St Pancras is too short for a pair of them and a single one wouldn't offer much more capacity than an 810 while still carrying diverted passengers.

I wouldn't think they'd be daft enough to use a 5 car. I think a 9 car would be greatly appreciated with its capacity. I do wonder how it'll be pathed though

Bald Rick · 29 Mar 2025

liamf656 said:
When Hull Trains use the diversion they don't make any passenger calls until Doncaster (they do swap drivers at Leicester I believe) so I'd imagine LNER would do the same

I wouldn't think they'd be daft enough to use a 5 car. I think a 9 car would be greatly appreciated with its capacity. I do wonder how it'll be pathed though

In the same way the Hull trains are pathed. It is a standard hour timetable on Saturday - if there is a path in one hour there is a path in all of them. The challenge will be platforming st St P.

Kilopylae · 29 Mar 2025

Iskra said:
I'm assuming so considering how much time it gained Northbound this morning. I managed to catch it and also the Midland Pullman at Treeton Junction:

Lovely video!

800001 · 29 Mar 2025

liamf656 said:
When Hull Trains use the diversion they don't make any passenger calls until Doncaster (they do swap drivers at Leicester I believe) so I'd imagine LNER would do the same

I wouldn't think they'd be daft enough to use a 5 car. I think a 9 car would be greatly appreciated with its capacity. I do wonder how it'll be pathed though

The provisional plans are for 5 x 9 car services to operate St Pancras to Doncaster and vv when Kings Cross to Peterborough is closed, this is to help alleviate the overcrowding issues that occur on EMR services.

Class 170101 · 29 Mar 2025

edwin_m said:
Given the lack of paths and platform capacity at St Pancras, I assume the idea would be to run a 9-car 800 in the path of a St Pancras to Sheffield, and to re-deploy the 810(s) that would otherwise be working this to strengthen some other service. I hope they don't try to run 5-car units, because St Pancras is too short for a pair of them and a single one wouldn't offer much more capacity than an 810 while still carrying diverted passengers.

You could do the same with the St Pancras to Nottingham on the opposite half hour and extend to Grantham (thence ECML). However disappointingly I doubt thats what they are going to do. based on @800001 post above

Banham7 · 29 Mar 2025

Class 170101 said:
You could do the same with the St Pancras to Nottingham on the opposite half hour and extend to Grantham (thence ECML). However disappointingly I doubt thats what they are going to do. based on @800001 post above

They could also run Lincoln to St Pancras with a call at Newark Castle and perhaps Nottingham for Grantham passengers.

Usually the Lincoln train only runs to Peterborough during a blockade south of St Neots, which renders it pretty much useless when there is already a Lincoln to Peterborough service via the joint line.

Iskra · 29 Mar 2025

Kilopylae said:
Lovely video!

Thank you!

Class 170101 · 31 Mar 2025

Rail Technology Magazine said:

LNER Azuma's Mysterious Midnight Mission!

Click to expand...

Rail Technology Magazine said:
While most of the country slept, an LNER Azuma train was carrying out an important return test run between Leeds and London St Pancras during the early hours of Friday 28 March.

LNER Azuma's Mysterious Midnight Mission! | Rail Technology Magazine

While most of the country slept, an LNER Azuma train was carrying out an important return test run between Leeds and London St P

www.railtechnologymagazine.com

Azuma 800108 heading down to St Pancras

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Rail Technology Magazine said: LNER Azuma's Mysterious Midnight Mission! Click to expand...

While most of the country slept, an LNER Azuma train was carrying out an important return test run between Leeds and London St Pancras during the early hours of Friday 28 March.​

​

Rail Technology Magazine said:

LNER Azuma's Mysterious Midnight Mission!

Click to expand...

While most of the country slept, an LNER Azuma train was carrying out an important return test run between Leeds and London St Pancras during the early hours of Friday 28 March.