Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[WillPS]

Matlock is (or at least was, a few years ago) cleared for 222s (see past discussions of the late Queen's visit on a 222), but I guess it doesn't look as if they will be clearing the 810s.

Midland Mainline had services to Matlock at one point didn't they? Originally run by 170s which were replaced by 222s...

 

[liamf656]

Midland Mainline had services to Matlock at one point didn't they? Originally run by 170s which were replaced by 222s...

The Matlock extension was never served by 222s. In its later days it was a 170 with a connection into a 222

 

[Trainman40083]

The Matlock extension was never served by 222s. In its later days it was a 170 with a connection into a 222

I thought there was a Class 170 service from Matlock to London.. Sure I had 170397 on it....Did it connect to a working from Burton.

 

[RailWonderer]

I'll look forward to pictures at Norwich and Liverpool, the go anywhere train!

There would be too many short platforms between Liverpool and Norwich, unless they added a service that only called at principal stations.

 

[liamf656]

I thought there was a Class 170 service from Matlock to London.. Sure I had 170397 on it....Did it connect to a working from Burton.

Yes there was, my post was referring to the use of 222s up the branch, which never happened on the regular

 

[Trainman40083]

Yes there was, my post was referring to the use of 222s up the branch, which never happened on the regular

Okay. I recall 170397 didn't like coupling to other 170s.

 

[800001]

810003 is currently operating under its own power from Merchant Park back to Old Dalby.
I presume the rewiring is complete on this unit, as when it arrived at Merchant Park it had been dragged back by a 66.
Path from RTT attached below.

Realtime Trains | 5Q30 1025 Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby | 23/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q30 1025 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby on 23/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[InTheEastMids]

Looks like there was an intention to run one to St Pancras and back overnight last night, but cancelled (planned again for tonight), then looks like it was supposed to go back to Hitachi, so I guess the plan was to swap the unfixed set with the newly fixed set?

Link: Real time trains movements at Old Dalby 23rd July.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...25-07-23/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

I presume the rewiring is complete on this unit,

Given the lack of any obvious action on other options, let's hope so (or to put it another way, perhaps the lack of action on other options means Hitachi convinced EMR that they weren't necessary).

 

[AndrewJM70]

Is there any information out there about what the rewire involves, how long it takes and how long the process will take? Is that all is required in order for the sets to be ready for service? Presumably non rewired sets can be used singularly and taken out from service when it is their turn. Also are all the sets built yet?

 

[D365]

Is there any information out there about what the rewire involves, how long it takes and how long the process will take? Is that all is required in order for the sets to be ready for service? Presumably non rewired sets can be used singularly and taken out from service when it is their turn.

This information will not be discussed in the public domain.

 

[MCR247]

Is there any information out there about what the rewire involves, how long it takes and how long the process will take? Is that all is required in order for the sets to be ready for service? Presumably non rewired sets can be used singularly and taken out from service when it is their turn. Also are all the sets built yet?

I feel like rewiring a train is quite a big task and might even mean the train would need to go through testing again

 

[alm37]

I feel like rewiring a train is quite a big task and might even mean the train would need to go through testing again

810003 was back at Merchants Park for about 5 weeks, and did a test run to Doncaster and back before heading back to Old Dalby (under its own power).

 

[InTheEastMids]

Perhaps this is another 810 heading back to Old Dalby(Link to Real time trains).

Realtime Trains | 5Q61 0927 Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby | 24/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q61 0927 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby on 24/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[NCT]

Perhaps this is another 810 heading back to Old Dalby(Link to Real time trains).

Realtime Trains | 5Q61 0927 Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby | 24/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q61 0927 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby on 24/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Diesel locomotive 60mph max, presumably dragged ...

No sightings of anything moving under their own power other than the recent 003 I presume?

 

[Pippy1505]

Perhaps this is another 810 heading back to Old Dalby(Link to Real time trains).

Realtime Trains | 5Q61 0927 Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby | 24/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q61 0927 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby on 24/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

66740 hauling a LNER 5 Car Set

 

[800001]

Perhaps this is another 810 heading back to Old Dalby(Link to Real time trains).

Realtime Trains | 5Q61 0927 Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby | 24/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q61 0927 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Old Dalby on 24/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

LNER 801101 off to Dalby for further in cab signalling testing.

 

[Archie810]

The Matlock extension was never served by 222s. In its later days it was a 170 with a connection into a 222

Actually a 222 did come into Matlock once carrying the queen in July 2014.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Actually a 222 did come into Matlock once carrying the queen in July 2014.

The Matlock - St Pancras direct service disappeared when the 170s were replaced by 222s. and the reason suggested at the time for their withdrawal was that the 222s were too heavy for the line, one particular bridge being quoted. May well be myth, though; particularly as in my youthful Northwest shed-bashing days I often sped through Matlock behind a 'Peak' - which were not particularly light on their feet/wheels.

 

[Spartacus]

I've a feeling they were used once in a blue moon on 'regular' passenger services too, perhaps during the Matlock Bath Illuminations, if my memory's not playing up. They've gone through to Crewe at times too, during Uttoxeter races.

 

[LowLevel]

The Matlock - St Pancras direct service disappeared when the 170s were replaced by 222s. and the reason suggested at the time for their withdrawal was that the 222s were too heavy for the line, one particular bridge being quoted. May well be myth, though; particularly as in my youthful Northwest shed-bashing days I often sped through Matlock behind a 'Peak' - which were not particularly light on their feet/wheels.

It was bridge 10 (I think that's the right number) at Whatstandwell by the chalet site which was repaired some years ago allowing heavier trains to pass again.

 

[liamf656]

Actually a 222 did come into Matlock once carrying the queen in July 2014.

That's not what I meant though, I was talking about the regular services from St Pancras 20 odd years ago. Your example is a one off replacing a sprinter on a local service

 

[Merle Haggard]

It was bridge 10 (I think that's the right number) at Whatstandwell by the chalet site which was repaired some years ago allowing heavier trains to pass again.

Thanks; there's so much dodgy stuff on the web that it's easy to doubt everything.
Perhaps however the bridge was just a convenient excuse for not having direct St Pancras trains from Matlock; the former 170 operated Barnsley and Burton direct services also finished at the same time (I think) and the latter (to Derb) was ok for 220/221s of course.

 

[MCR247]

Thanks; there's so much dodgy stuff on the web that it's easy to doubt everything.
Perhaps however the bridge was just a convenient excuse for not having direct St Pancras trains from Matlock; the former 170 operated Barnsley and Burton direct services also finished at the same time (I think) and the latter (to Derb) was ok for 220/221s of course.

Barnsley lasted long enough to get 222s

 

[bunnahabhain]

It was bridge 10 (I think that's the right number) at Whatstandwell by the chalet site which was repaired some years ago allowing heavier trains to pass again.

Interesting railway trivia. For a delivery of Mk1 coaches to Peak Rail they had to use a GWR Pannier Tank in the mod 1990s because everything else was too heavy.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Rock Rail East Midlands plc has released its results for 15mths ending 31/3/25 so pretty recent.

https://find-and-update.company-inf...IxNmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0

Its received another 15.4m from Hitachi for liquidated damages from 15.3m the previous financial year.

They only paid Hitachi 9m well down from 68m the previous year reflecting slow progress and presumably milestones not being hit that trigger certain payments.

As expected no lease payments received as no units accepted into traffic. They only forecast 4.8m in current financial year with 25m the following year.

In note 21 "Subsequent Events post the report date" they have nothing extra to add surprisingly given report is signed off 17th July 2025.

The lease expires in August 2027 which is going to be interesting if they haven't got them into traffic by then albeit there is no real alternative so things will be sorted.

 

[800001]

810008 out on over night testing again tonight between Merchant Park/Newcastle/Doncaster.

Possibly moves to Etches Park tomorrow night.

 

[david.stannard]

810008 out on over night testing again tonight between Merchant Park/Newcastle/Doncaster.

Possibly moves to Etches Park tomorrow night.

810008 moved from Merchant Park to Etches Park last night (30th July).
The set which moved from Old Dalby to Etches Park on Monday (anyone know if it was 03 or 04?) also last night worked a 5Q42 test working to Kentish Town (running almost two hours late), returning from there to Old Dalby.

 

[800001]

810008 moved from Merchant Park to Etches Park last night (30th July).
The set which moved from Old Dalby to Etches Park on Monday (anyone know if it was 03 or 04?) also last night worked a 5Q42 test working to Kentish Town (running almost two hours late), returning from there to Old Dalby.

810001 is also still at Old Dalby.

 

[david.stannard]

810001 is also still at Old Dalby.

Talking to staff when 04 was doing resumed EMR route-wide station validation checks earlier this month, I got the impression that 01 may currently be a non-runner, parts having been donated to keep other sets at Old Dalby serviceable - no more however than a hearsay rumour.

 

[800001]

Talking to staff when 04 was doing resumed EMR route-wide station validation checks earlier this month, I got the impression that 01 may currently be a non-runner, parts having been donated to keep other sets at Old Dalby serviceable - no more however than a hearsay rumour.

I did hear it needed to return to Aycliffe months ago, but that hasn't happened (yet).
Embarrassing if it is a Xmas tree already.