Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[bunnahabhain]

EMR have removed introduction date from the aurora page on their website.

However they have left it in their news pages, eg this one which says

First look inside EMR’s new Aurora Bi-mode fleet | East Midlands Railway News

EMR release new photos of their new Intercity fleet interior Hitachi built trains include brand new seat designs, air conditioning, WiFi, power sockets and passenger information screens

news.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

which rather implies remainder during 2026, and nothing slipping into 2027 etc

The first will run in 2025.

 

[PG]

The first will run in 2025.

In passenger service?

 

[tram21]

In passenger service?

Personally I can't see why not as driver training is progressing well.

 

[800001]

It was along time ago but the but I think the GWR launch train with some key people on it had leaking air handling units. There may well be an old Roger Ford or similar column featuring the shower.

Edit to add sky news article (the first item Google found) from 2017

Frustration as air con fault and delays taint launch of new high-speed train

The Transport Secretary was one of those on board the debut service, which suffered delays and a leak en route to London.

news.sky.com

Yes. One train, the introduction train.
So we slate a whole fleet of trains due to one incident (which I believe was caused by an error on depot overnight)?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Sep 2025 ==

Personally I can't see why not as driver training is progressing well.

Well, they need to accept a train which is to the standard required to carry passengers.
008 and 009 are only to be used for crew training and need returning to Aycliffe for rectification work.

 

[43102EMR]

Personally I can't see why not as driver training is progressing well.

For EMR’s sake, I hope they do - doesn’t help that they’re starting to hand back the 7 car units in preparation for Lumo. Just as well another operator hasn’t been confirmed yet for the remaining sets!

 

[Aspen90]

As expected… Short forms and no seat reservations confirmed over the winter while the 222’s leave for Lumo.

 

[Killingworth]

Management at EMR must be tearing their hair with the time it's taking to get both new and refurbished rolling stock into service. Passengers and enthusiasts alike are unimpressed but we can only imagine how much more frustrated those within the company must be.

Today Will Rogers has issued a message to stakeholders. We should see at least a token entry into service this year.

Preparing for Aurora – A new era of rail travel for East Midlands Railway East Midlands Railway (EMR) is entering an exciting new phase of its fleet transformation, marking a major milestone on the journey to launching our brand-new Aurora fleet. This is the culmination of a landmark £400 million investment that will revolutionise rail travel between South Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and London St Pancras.

The Hitachi built bi-mode trains will transform the experience of customers as they travel on the Midland Main Line, with the first train entering service in 2025 and a phased roll-out continuing through 2026. The introduction of Aurora will bring a significant upgrade to the customer experience, delivering a cleaner, greener, and more comfortable railway. Customers can look forward to: • Modern, spacious interiors with increased seating and improved comfort. • Quieter, more energy-efficient trains that dramatically cut carbon emissions. • Enhanced accessibility with upgraded features for customers with reduced mobility. • Smart technology, including improved air conditioning, faster Wi-Fi, and improved customer information. • Greater reliability and performance, supporting a more robust and resilient timetable.

Following a series of delivery delays, on Friday 8 August 2025, we reached a major milestone in our new trains programme with the formal acceptance of our first Class 810 train (unit 810008) from Hitachi, with our second train (unit 810009) following shortly after. This has allowed us to commence training our drivers and onboard crews and has propelled us closer to introducing our new trains. We’re excited to continue working closely with Hitachi as further units are accepted and we move closer to introducing our new trains into service.

To maintain a reliable service during the transition period, over the winter a small number of EMR trains will run with fewer carriages than usual, and we plan to suspend seat reservations on some services. This will help us manage the transition from our existing trains to the new Aurora fleet in a controlled way, as three Class 222 trains are returning to the leasing company between September and December 2025, before transferring to Lumo.

These adjustments are being carefully designed to prioritise key services and minimise disruption for our customers, and we are working closely with our industry partners to maintain service continuity. We are also putting measures in place to help manage demand across our network and to support customers in planning their journeys.

These temporary changes are a necessary step as we revolutionise our fleet. Our focus remains on delivering a safe and reliable service as we introduce this once-in-a-generation upgrade. We’re committed to keeping our customers moving during this period with minimal disruption.

Thank you for your patience and support as we prepare to welcome the Aurora fleet beginning in 2025. A brighter future for railway customers in South Yorkshire and the East Midlands is on the horizon. Kind regards, Will Rogers Managing Director, East Midlands Railway

 

[QSK19]

As expected… Short forms and no seat reservations confirmed over the winter while the 222’s leave for Lumo.

And presumably many cancellations when the already very overstretched fleet develops faults.

I feel extremely sorry for not just EMR passengers, but whose who work for EMR too.

Very dark times in the short term (not just in the literal sense of days drawing in); but hopefully light at the end of the tunnel.

Finally, on a purely pedantic level, would the 810 introduction actually count as a “once-in-a-generation upgrade”? The 222s - themselves an upgrade on the 170s - were introduced practically 20 years ago. Does 20 years count as a generation these days?

 

[duffield]

It's not quite as bad as many feared; three 7 coach 222s going off to Lumo is a bit grim, but there was a lot of talk about the rest of the fleet being steadily syphoned off to Scotrail imminently, which it now appears may not happen (at least until after the 810s start going into passenger service).

 

[43102EMR]

It's not quite as bad as many feared; three 7 coach 222s going off to Lumo is a bit grim, but there was a lot of talk about the rest of the fleet being steadily syphoned off to Scotrail imminently, which it now appears may not happen (at least until after the 810s start going into passenger service).

Are they confirmed as being bound for Scotrail?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Are they confirmed as being bound for Scotrail?

Yes, they haven't said anything publicly but there have been many trustworthy reports on here.

 

[QSK19]

It's not quite as bad as many feared; three 7 coach 222s going off to Lumo is a bit grim, but there was a lot of talk about the rest of the fleet being steadily syphoned off to Scotrail imminently, which it now appears may not happen (at least until after the 810s start going into passenger service).

ScotRail couldn’t have the 222s imminently anyway, otherwise EMR would have no stock for IC services. So, it’s a given that 222s going off to them would have to wait until 810 entry into service.

Many people have quite rightly said that EMR’s stock situation isn’t the fault of Lumo or ScotRail; but there is a huge difference between having reduced stock (which makes things difficult, but somewhat workable) and having absolutely no stock to run any level of service.

Despite the EMR IC stock situation being, as you say, grim, at least it can run some half decent level of service.

 

[tram21]

Management at EMR must be tearing their hair with the time it's taking to get both new and refurbished rolling stock into service. Passengers and enthusiasts alike are unimpressed but we can only imagine how much more frustrated those within the company must be.

Today Will Rogers has issued a message to stakeholders. We should see at least a token entry into service this year.

Is there a link to this or is it an internal thing?

 

[Trainbike46]

Scotrail has the HSTs until 2030, so it makes sense for them to continue using those until the 810s are in service at EMR.

 

[Killingworth]

Is there a link to this or is it an internal thing?

Sent to stakeholders today

 

[43096]

Yes, they haven't said anything publicly but there have been many trustworthy reports on here.

So, no then! There has been no confirmation that any lease has been agreed.

 

[Spartacus]

I see 810009's been out today, 810008 yesterday and the day before.

 

[david.stannard]

Yes, apparently no training runs from Etches Park last week but the runs with 08 and 09 this week have included for the first time a morning working to Wellingborough and back as well as the previous afternoon run to St Pancras.

 

[Aspen90]

Spot on with the staff

And presumably many cancellations when the already very overstretched fleet develops faults.

I feel extremely sorry for not just EMR passengers, but whose who work for EMR too.

Very dark times in the short term (not just in the literal sense of days drawing in); but hopefully light at the end of the tunnel.

Finally, on a purely pedantic level, would the 810 introduction actually count as a “once-in-a-generation upgrade”? The 222s - themselves an upgrade on the 170s - were introduced practically 20 years ago. Does 20 years count as a generation these days?

Exactly this regarding the staff and passengers. I think there will be a decent chunk of management of expectations required. People assume that they will have everything other 80X trains have that they’ve been on as they’re the newest. These have been stripped down to the minimum regarding options and extras. Think the ‘SE’ model when going for a company car and you’re not allowed to add anything! Seat reservation traffic lights won’t be included, coffee machine - probably not, a microwave - no ovens, still paper cups and plates, no doors between connecting corridors (they’ll have a door at the end of the vestibule but not at the connecting corridors), bike storage not closed off like LNER, no automatic power change over like GWR have, expect a collection of pantographs on the floor in the Wigston area!

 

[QSK19]

Spot on with the staff

Exactly this regarding the staff and passengers. I think there will be a decent chunk of management of expectations required. People assume that they will have everything other 80X trains have that they’ve been on as they’re the newest. These have been stripped down to the minimum regarding options and extras. Think the ‘SE’ model when going for a company car and you’re not allowed to add anything! Seat reservation traffic lights won’t be included, coffee machine - probably not, a microwave - no ovens, still paper cups and plates, no doors between connecting corridors (they’ll have a door at the end of the vestibule but not at the connecting corridors), bike storage not closed off like LNER, no automatic power change over like GWR have, expect a collection of pantographs on the floor in the Wigston area!

Gosh, even down to no seat reservation traffic lights?! Just seems like Grayling’s commitment was a begrudging, reluctant one and that set the tone for doing nothing beyond strictly necessary.

To cap it all off, when EMR management has the predictable introduction-into-service fanfare at STP, let’s see if Rogers wrongly claims that the 810s will be the first bi-modes to call into STP in passenger service. Remembering that HT 802s beat them to that accolade, of course!

 

[43066]

Remembering that HT 802s beat them to that accolade, of course!

Running on diesel only…

 

[Aspen90]

I doubt there’ll be any fanfare at STP - there’s no space! Can’t even have brush buckets for driver windscreens as they get in the way!

 

[PG]

These have been stripped down to the minimum regarding options and extras.

Is this a weight issue or simply making sure that the MML still has that Cinderella feeling!!?

no automatic power change over like GWR have, expect a collection of pantographs on the floor in the Wigston area!

Talk about penny wise, pound foolish

 

[Fincra5]

Spot on with the staff

Exactly this regarding the staff and passengers. I think there will be a decent chunk of management of expectations required. People assume that they will have everything other 80X trains have that they’ve been on as they’re the newest. These have been stripped down to the minimum regarding options and extras. Think the ‘SE’ model when going for a company car and you’re not allowed to add anything! Seat reservation traffic lights won’t be included, coffee machine - probably not, a microwave - no ovens, still paper cups and plates, no doors between connecting corridors (they’ll have a door at the end of the vestibule but not at the connecting corridors), bike storage not closed off like LNER, no automatic power change over like GWR have, expect a collection of pantographs on the floor in the Wigston area!

Is this accurate or looking inside a test unit ?

 

[dosxuk]

Today Will Rogers has issued a message to stakeholders. We should see at least a token entry into service this year.

Thank's Will. I'm used to these sort of messages being a bit of a puff-piece, but this one has really bugged me. The majority of things he's claiming we can look forward to are either not transformational, or a return to when the TOC cared about the stock.

Customers can look forward to:
• Modern, spacious interiors with increased seating and improved comfort.

The 222's were plenty spacious, and comfortable until EMR stopped looking after them.

• Quieter, more energy-efficient trains that dramatically cut carbon emissions.

OK - but I'm not sure the average customer is actually that concerned about the carbon emissions

• Enhanced accessibility with upgraded features for customers with reduced mobility.

Such as? In particular, that are transformational.

• Smart technology, including improved air conditioning, faster Wi-Fi, and improved customer information.

The 222's air con used to be plenty good enough - again, until it stopped being maintained. I'll agree, the WiFi on the 222's is terrible, but the IET's don't have the same problem with RF blocking windows, so I'm not sure how many people will choose to use it. And the "improved customer information" is just going to be more adverts isn't it?

• Greater reliability and performance, supporting a more robust and resilient timetable

The 222's were great for reliability and performance, until you decided to cut costs and staff and push them way beyond where they would expect. So the exact same thing can happen to the 810's when you run short of cash, and it's hardly transformational to just go back to where things used to be before EMR took over.

 

[800001]

Spot on with the staff

Exactly this regarding the staff and passengers. I think there will be a decent chunk of management of expectations required. People assume that they will have everything other 80X trains have that they’ve been on as they’re the newest. These have been stripped down to the minimum regarding options and extras. Think the ‘SE’ model when going for a company car and you’re not allowed to add anything! Seat reservation traffic lights won’t be included, coffee machine - probably not, a microwave - no ovens, still paper cups and plates, no doors between connecting corridors (they’ll have a door at the end of the vestibule but not at the connecting corridors), bike storage not closed off like LNER, no automatic power change over like GWR have, expect a collection of pantographs on the floor in the Wigston area!

LNER 1st class kitchen do not have a coffee machine. They use coffee bags and hot water from the boiler/urn.
I've seen mockup of 1st class catering cart Anth's has same type of coffee jug as LNER.
So EMR 1st class catering/coffee looks like will be the same.
Unless you mean standard class catering coffee machine?

 

[Aspen90]

Not to keep the weight down no - to keep the MML the Cinderella of the bunch! DfT hold the purse strings don’t they…

No, not a test unit, the proper service units have had most options declined or refused by the powers that be.

Supposed to be an all singing all dancing proper coffee machine in the galley but due to an oversight with the grey water system it’s not certain they can go ahead.

Also they’ve now got the service to match your journey length in 1st - so you’ll be given what they deem suitable for the length of your journey now.

 

[QSK19]

Running on diesel only…

Rogers now has his caveat for his fanfare speech - first bi-mode in passenger service in electric mode (he can’t say first AT300 in electric mode per se due to the 395s, of course).

All this is dependent on there being no brush bucket in the way though!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2025 ==

Not to keep the weight down no - to keep the MML the Cinderella of the bunch! DfT hold the purse strings don’t they…

No, not a test unit, the proper service units have had most options declined or refused by the powers that be.

Supposed to be an all singing all dancing proper coffee machine in the galley but due to an oversight with the grey water system it’s not certain they can go ahead.

Also they’ve now got the service to match your journey length in 1st - so you’ll be given what they deem suitable for the length of your journey now.

Is the truth that so much money was spent on customised LEANs that there was no budget for anything else?

If so, couldn’t they have just gone with normal LEANs and used the saved money on practical essentials?

 

[800001]

Rogers now has his caveat for his fanfare speech - first bi-mode in passenger service in electric mode (he can’t say first AT300 in electric mode per se due to the 395s, of course).

All this is dependent on there being no brush bucket in the way though!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2025 ==


Is the truth that so much money was spent on customised LEANs that there was no budget for anything else?

If so, couldn’t they have just gone with normal LEANs and used the saved money on practical essentials?

What's LEANS?

 

[MCR247]

What's LEANS?

The seat type going into the 810s - FISA Leans