Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[800001]

Pretty impressive for speed of repair/replacement.

It's at the factory......can imagine they have a few windscreens they can obtain easily.

 

[1D54]

Shows the desperation to get it in service.

 

[800001]

Shows the desperation to get it in service.

How is it desperation? They are easy to remove and replace.

 

[D365]

Shows the desperation to get it in service.

No reason not to repair the damage…

 

[wickham]

What if the 810 is there, but the event turns into the railway equivalent of this Armando Iannucci sketch?

[Link is to a sketch from The Armando Iannucci Shows. A couple are viewing a house with an estate agent. The house turns out to be different from what they expected]


I agree this is the nub of the issue. I think most of us thought EMR had ordered an enhanced 80x. I certainly did, and I think EMR also thought this.
Given how delivery of the project has gone, it also seems reasonable that Hitachi also thought that this is what they were going to deliver.
However, to meet the requirements of the contract, they have had to change so much they had to build the "totally new train", which is borne out by the time taken to get an 810 into service being similar to the time taken to go from order to in-service on the first GWR class 80x.

On a more positive note, it looks like at least one 810 was out and about from Old Dalby last night.

Is all this possibly anything to do with the fact that these units have been built entirely at Newton Aycliffe whereas most of the previous 8xx units have simply been assembled there from parts built elsewhere ?

 

[tfw756rider]

Sat minding my own business at Luton waiting for a 360 Northbound and this pulls in on platform 4 !

Welcome to RailUKforums and thanks for sharing your photos of 810009 there

 

[Gordonman]

The overnight test runs ran again overnight between Darlington and Doncaster.Presume it was 810006 again.

 

[AndrewJM70]

So the MP for Market Harborough has had a meeting with EMR and the latest is 2 sets in December, another 5 in the spring and the remaining 26 sets in Q3 and Q4 2026

“I had a useful meeting with EMR today. A bit of good news first. I and MH Rail Users Group have been pressing for a later last service back to Market Harborough. In December a later 23:35 service will be introduced so people can do things in town and not have to run for a train so early.

I had asked for the meeting to discuss the delays to the new trains, and the state of the current ones. I made the point that they seem in poor repair and asked about when the new ones are now coming. Two new ones will start in service in December, then five by spring, but the bulk of them (there will be 33 in total) will arrive in the second half of next year.

I made the point that they need to keep the current trains (doors, loos, windows) in better repair until then. The delay is obviously very frustrating but seems to be the fault of Hitachi who are building the new ones.

EMR are also going to to replace the car parking equipment at Market Harborough so that it is ANPR, and people can pay on an app. There will still be machines for people who want to use them, but this should end the situation where people regularly queue in the cold and dark to pay at the machines.

There was also discussion about the vacant coffee shop unit at the station, following the recent closure of Butterwick. EMR confirmed that there has already been a lot of interest from potential new operators, and it is hoped that a replacement café will open soon.”

 

[Roger B]

So the MP for Market Harborough has had a meeting with EMR and the latest is 2 sets in December, another 5 in the spring and the remaining 26 sets in Q3 and Q4 2026

“I had a useful meeting with EMR today. A bit of good news first. I and MH Rail Users Group have been pressing for a later last service back to Market Harborough. In December a later 23:35 service will be introduced so people can do things in town and not have to run for a train so early.

I had asked for the meeting to discuss the delays to the new trains, and the state of the current ones. I made the point that they seem in poor repair and asked about when the new ones are now coming. Two new ones will start in service in December, then five by spring, but the bulk of them (there will be 33 in total) will arrive in the second half of next year.

I made the point that they need to keep the current trains (doors, loos, windows) in better repair until then. The delay is obviously very frustrating but seems to be the fault of Hitachi who are building the new ones.

EMR are also going to to replace the car parking equipment at Market Harborough so that it is ANPR, and people can pay on an app. There will still be machines for people who want to use them, but this should end the situation where people regularly queue in the cold and dark to pay at the machines.

There was also discussion about the vacant coffee shop unit at the station, following the recent closure of Butterwick. EMR confirmed that there has already been a lot of interest from potential new operators, and it is hoped that a replacement café will open soon.”

Great update - many thanks.

Apologies for the pedantry, but ... the MP said " Two new ones will start in service in December, then five by spring, but the bulk of them (there will be 33 in total) will arrive in the second half of next year." On reading this, I took it to mean two in December, three more in the Spring (making five altogether), then all 33 by year-end - rather than another five in the spring (per your commentary).
Are you able to confirm which one is correct, please?

Though. ultimately, we'll just have to wait and see ....

 

[AndrewJM70]

Good spot. Yes difficult to say for sure but the way it is written seems to indeed suggest a total of 5 by spring. I suspect the diagram thread will become as busy as this one by sprin!

 

[liamf656]

Good spot. Yes difficult to say for sure but the way it is written seems to indeed suggest a total of 5 by spring. I suspect the diagram thread will become as busy as this one by sprin!

As I understand it 810006/010 are due to arrive imminently with three more before the new year, which certainly suggests they'll be in service by spring time, followed by a flow of arrivals throughout 2026. I'm happy to be corrected though

 

[800001]

As I understand it 810006/010 are due to arrive imminently with three more before the new year, which certainly suggests they'll be in service by spring time, followed by a flow of arrivals throughout 2026. I'm happy to be corrected though

810006 should of arrived within the last 2-3 weeks, but obviously hasn't.
010 had been getting tested outdoors at Aycliffe.

Other than that not seen any activity on any other units outside (normally a clue they are next units planned for delivery) so I would be surprised if a further 3 were delivered before new year (however Hitachi may actually surprise us for once).

Units 005 and 007 are dumped in sidings and have not moved in several weeks.

 

[Pippy1505]

810006 arriving Etches Park Wednesday 22/10/2025 Running as 5Q31 0923 Merchant Park - Etches Park

 

[GoneSouth]

810006 arriving Etches Park Wednesday 22/10/2025 Running as 5Q31 0923 Merchant Park - Etches Park

Has anybody seen what the interior of a completed set is like yet?

 

[liamf656]

Has anybody seen what the interior of a completed set is like yet?

Yes, they look and feel like space age compared to a 222! Loads more space for luggage overhead and extra seats with the removal of the buffet bar and reduced galley size

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2025 ==

810006 arriving Etches Park Wednesday 22/10/2025 Running as 5Q31 0923 Merchant Park - Etches Park

810010 should follow soon after

 

[GoneSouth]

Yes, they look and feel like space age compared to a 222! Loads more space for luggage overhead and extra seats with the removal of the buffet bar and reduced galley size

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2025 ==


810010 should follow soon after

I quite like the lighting on the 222s. Haven’t seen the 810s obviously but I’m going to assume they’re obnoxiously bright like all the other hitachi trains

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I quite like the lighting on the 222s. Haven’t seen the 810s obviously but I’m going to assume they’re obnoxiously bright like all the other hitachi trains

You’d be surprised. The interior also seems to have a lot more personality than the deathly bland 800-807 range.

 

[bunnahabhain]

You’d be surprised. The interior also seems to have a lot more personality than the deathly bland 800-807 range.

There's a lot of grey metal in the vestibules which I think will look very cheap and nasty once people start scuffing it. I also don't think the internal colours will last once spillages start to happen, especially on the lighter colours. The 170 refurbs already have some horrible stains.

 

[Amos390]

I believe as for 810s currently, 001 has been sat in the shed at Old Dalby for a bit but was sent back to Merchant (no clue why), 002 is/was out for overseas climate testing in Italy (not sure whether it has definitely returned yet), 003 and 004 are in test with GBRf (however 004 has engine overheating problems I believe and so keeps failing), as of typing this 006 is currently being delivered to Etches Park under 5Q31 (Merchant Park Sidings (0923) to Etches Park Sidings (1240)), and then 008 and 009 are undergoing driver training with EMR running 3A25 (Etches to Wellingborough), 3A26 (Wellingborough to Derby), 3A27 (Derby to St Pancras via Nottingham) and 3A28 (St Pancras to Etches direct), however 009 has not had EMR stickers applied and so may need to return to Merchant Park to have that done.

 

[LowLevel]

I believe as for 810s currently, 001 has been sat in the shed at Old Dalby for a bit but was sent back to Merchant (no clue why), 002 is/was out for overseas climate testing in Italy (not sure whether it has definitely returned yet), 003 and 004 are in test with GBRf (however 004 has engine overheating problems I believe and so keeps failing), as of typing this 006 is currently being delivered to Etches Park under 5Q31 (Merchant Park Sidings (0923) to Etches Park Sidings (1240)), and then 008 and 009 are undergoing driver training with EMR running 3A25 (Etches to Wellingborough), 3A26 (Wellingborough to Derby), 3A27 (Derby to St Pancras via Nottingham) and 3A28 (St Pancras to Etches direct), however 009 has not had EMR stickers applied and so may need to return to Merchant Park to have that done.

If I remember rightly sets 8 and 9 are not actually ready for passenger traffic and still have work to be done on them, but were accepted as is on the basis they're in a suitable working state for training use.

 

[800001]

I believe as for 810s currently, 001 has been sat in the shed at Old Dalby for a bit but was sent back to Merchant (no clue why), 002 is/was out for overseas climate testing in Italy (not sure whether it has definitely returned yet), 003 and 004 are in test with GBRf (however 004 has engine overheating problems I believe and so keeps failing), as of typing this 006 is currently being delivered to Etches Park under 5Q31 (Merchant Park Sidings (0923) to Etches Park Sidings (1240)), and then 008 and 009 are undergoing driver training with EMR running 3A25 (Etches to Wellingborough), 3A26 (Wellingborough to Derby), 3A27 (Derby to St Pancras via Nottingham) and 3A28 (St Pancras to Etches direct), however 009 has not had EMR stickers applied and so may need to return to Merchant Park to have that done.

001 is back at Merchant Park to be fitted out and brought up to normal passenger standard (currently a shell, no interior fitted).

006 should be ready to required passenger standard, the first to be so.

008/009 purely for crew training, have full interior but need to return to factory at some point to be brought up to required passenger standard (what ever that is).

 

[liamf656]

001 is back at Merchant Park to be fitted out and brought up to normal passenger standard (currently a shell, no interior fitted).

006 should be ready to required passenger standard, the first to be so.

008/009 purely for crew training, have full interior but need to return to factory at some point to be brought up to required passenger standard (what ever that is).

Just to add to this 010 will be joining 006 at Etches Park imminently whilst 008/009 return for work. 011/012/013 are also nearly done and should be with us fairly soon.

001/002 expected to be the last to be handed over for obvious reasons

You’d be surprised. The interior also seems to have a lot more personality than the deathly bland 800-807 range.

I definitely prefer them over the other Hitachi trains

 

[dorsetdesiro]

Agree about the brighter lighting in Hitachi units, not sure if this is a Hitachi thing or a recent requirement for newest intercity stock to have brighter lighting for safety/security & better visibility for CCTV?

I noticed the Desiros' brighter lighting when they first came in, replacing the 442's diffused examples, on South Western then I got used to it over time.

I do remember the old stock (Mark 2?), used by Caledonian Sleeper, that the lighting never dimmed at all during the night that an eye mask would be recommended so ScotRail (when they ran CS before) gave out free eyemasks!

The older intercity stock definitely have nicer & softer lighting for ambience - can anyone confirm whether the CAF 397/Mk5 and the Stadler 745 have soft spotlighting or bright tubular striplighting?

I will miss the relaxing ambience of the 222's lighting when the 810s do come in. The 810's striplighting may automatically dim at nighttime, probably not.

 

[800001]

Just to add to this 010 will be joining 006 at Etches Park imminently whilst 008/009 return for work. 011/012/013 are also nearly done and should be with us fairly soon.

001/002 expected to be the last to be handed over for obvious reasons


I definitely prefer them over the other Hitachi trains

Do you know where 002 is? I believe it might still be in Italy, not seen any reports from the open day that it is at Aycliffe.

 

[liamf656]

Do you know where 002 is? I believe it might still be in Italy, not seen any reports from the open day that it is at Aycliffe.

That's the only one I have no idea on I'm afraid. I've not heard any reports of it being seen anywhere in this country so it may well still be in Pistoia

 

[philip simpkin]

I did ask a couple of staff at the Hitachi Open Day and they were unable to help.

 

[kevjs]

That's the only one I have no idea on I'm afraid. I've not heard any reports of it being seen anywhere in this country so it may well still be in Pistoia

Has anyone checked the Lybian desert recently?

Although the trains are produced exclusively for DSB, the railway operator said the trains remain Ansaldobreda property until they are delivered to Denmark.

According to Ingeniøren, the train was sent to Libya as an Italian present to the country's leader. The train set is adorned with a message in Arabic, saying “For 40 years’ achievement” – a message thought to be a tribute to Gadaffi.

(One of the Danish IC4s being built by Ansaldobreda (now Hitachi Italy) that went missing ended up being found in the Lybian Desert)

IC4 train a gift from Berlusconi to Gadaffi

Italy to strengthen diplomatic relations with Libya – with a Danish train It now appears that Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has sent a Danish IC4 train to Libyan dictator Muammar Gadaffi as a present, reports technology website ing.dk. The mysterious...

jyllands-posten.dk

 

[AlterEgo]

I quite like the lighting on the 222s. Haven’t seen the 810s obviously but I’m going to assume they’re obnoxiously bright like all the other hitachi trains

They are indeed. Overhead lighting is as bright as a thousand suns.

 

[sh24]

They are indeed. Overhead lighting is as bright as a thousand suns.

Oh dear.

 

[AlterEgo]

Oh dear.

Please enjoy this picture of our flagship train with its wonderful convivial ambience. Mood lighting? There is only one mood - that of a police helicopter searchlight.