Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[norbitonflyer]

That's what I'm assuming.Sneak it/them into service, iron out any last-minute in-service snags, then invite the bigwigs down for the formal event. Lots of instances where doing it all on the first day was a bad idea (Leeds and Selby railway springs to mind).

Liverpool & Manchester was another one - "apart from that, Mrs Huskisson, did you enjoy the opening day?"

 

[Robski]

A new dawn breaks as Transport UK and EMR confirms first Aurora train will enter service this December | East Midlands Railway News

Transport UK and EMR confirm first Aurora from new £400 million fleet will begin running this December New trains provide more seats, modern, spacious interiors and enhanced accessibility features The state-of-the-art Hitachi Rail built fleet will transform the experience of customers as they...

news.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

Interesting point in the notes section of the press release...

• Windows are fitted with grey-tinted glazing to reduce solar glare, enhancing passenger comfort and First-Class customers will also benefit from adjustable sun blinds.

Will standard class not have sun blinds? If so, that's a bit odd for an intercity type train.

 

[Pete_uk]

Interesting point in the notes section of the press release...

Will standard class not have sun blinds? If so, that's a bit odd for an intercity type train.

I get the impression it's a no frills train.

 

[LowLevel]

Interesting point in the notes section of the press release...

Will standard class not have sun blinds? If so, that's a bit odd for an intercity type train.

I think it's fair to say that whilst the 222 was a premium spec train for it's time to suit the business market that then was Midland Mainline's main focus, the 810 is definitely more of a decent regional train which is more of the market it fills with journey times of 1 to 2 hours. It doesn't have a lot of the "frills" of the West and East Coast versions. Even the dishwasher was de-specced from it reports suggest.

As long as they work they'll be a perfectly decent and comfortable train for the work they'll do but they aren't a full service train like a HST or a 222.

 

[800001]

I think it's fair to say that whilst the 222 was a premium spec train for it's time to suit the business market that then was Midland Mainline's main focus, the 810 is definitely more of a decent regional train which is more of the market it fills with journey times of 1 to 2 hours. It doesn't have a lot of the "frills" of the West and East Coast versions. Even the dishwasher was de-specced from it reports suggest.

As long as they work they'll be a perfectly decent and comfortable train for the work they'll do but they aren't a full service train like a HST or a 222.

None of the Hitachis 8Xx fleets has a dishwasher on board.

 

[43096]

As long as they work

Which is a big if given the reliability of Hitachi's 80x units. It was reported elsewhere that yesterday, of GWR's 93 80x sets, no less than 75 had at least one engine isolated.

 

[fgwrich]

Which is a big if given the reliability of Hitachi's 80x units. It was reported elsewhere that yesterday, of GWR's 93 80x sets, no less than 75 had at least one engine isolated.

I can understand that, as I type from an 800/3 with 3 running GUs.

I do want these to enter service though. Much as I dislike the 80X design, there’s something about these that both look better and (with an interior like that) should be better than the native examples I’m used to travelling on.

 

[Alfie1014]

Interesting point in the notes section of the press release...

Will standard class not have sun blinds? If so, that's a bit odd for an intercity type train.

The GA 745/0s only have blinds in 1st, the 745/1s being all standard don’t have any at all. Seems very mean to me the sun doesn’t only shine on the righteous 1st class passengers!

 

[Richard Scott]

Will standard class not have sun blinds? If so, that's a bit odd for an intercity type train

Am I the only person who doesn't like sunblinds? Wouldn't be so bad but person in seat in front pulls them down and complains when you push it back up as I want to see out of the window. Best not fitted in my opinion, sure many other people won't agree.

 

[800001]

Am I the only person who doesn't like sunblinds? Wouldn't be so bad but person in seat in front pulls them down and complains when you push it back up as I want to see out of the window. Best not fitted in my opinion, sure many other people won't agree.

I agree! I want to be able to see out of the window.

 

[43096]

Am I the only person who doesn't like sunblinds? Wouldn't be so bad but person in seat in front pulls them down and complains when you push it back up as I want to see out of the window. Best not fitted in my opinion, sure many other people won't agree.

Agree!

Maybe one for the pet hates thread, but there is always a presumption that the person wanting the blind down is "right", when in reality you have just as much right to have it up.

 

[duffield]

I agree! I want to be able to see out of the window.

And they get left down long after the sun angle no longer requires it.

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Am I the only person who doesn't like sunblinds? Wouldn't be so bad but person in seat in front pulls them down and complains when you push it back up as I want to see out of the window. Best not fitted in my opinion, sure many other people won't agree.

I agree. They are a nuisance.

Which were the first trains to have them? Was it the Voyagers / Pendolinos?

There is more of a tendency for people to pull them down now due to staring at a screen.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The GA 745/0s only have blinds in 1st, the 745/1s being all standard don’t have any at all. Seems very mean to me the sun doesn’t only shine on the righteous 1st class passengers!

But that's like saying, seems very mean to me, it's not only first class passengers that get hungry (LNER/Avanti serve complimentary hot food in first), or it's not only first class passengers that get tired and want a comfy seat. Completely true that the sun shines in the eyes of standard class travellers too, but if they want to pay to avoid that nuisance, they can. The whole point of first class is that it's an option to pay more for a more comfortable experience.

 

[Killingworth]

I agree. They are a nuisance.

Which were the first trains to have them? Was it the Voyagers / Pendolinos?

There is more of a tendency for people to pull them down now due to staring at a screen.

Didn't most old coaches have sun blinds as standard? Subject for a nostalgic thread!

 

[STINT47]

Mk1s had sunblinds. You can still find them on preserved railways. They were incidentally on both classes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I agree. They are a nuisance.

Agreed, just a source of conflict. Never missed them on the huge number of trains that don't have them.

On most 80x at least the very poor window alignment means they mostly only affect one row bar at tables, but I think these are better aligned?

 

[Petrichor]

Hi all, hopping on this thread to ask if anyone has heard of passenger door problems with the 810s? I was sat on a train at Derby around 13:45 on the 10th November and saw a particularly packed 810 pull up on the platform to my left, only to see one of the doors sliding about very freely before a passenger trying to get off shoved it to one side.
Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this, it's my first time posting on here.

 

[43055]

Hi all, hopping on this thread to ask if anyone has heard of passenger door problems with the 810s? I was sat on a train at Derby around 13:45 on the 10th November and saw a particularly packed 810 pull up on the platform to my left, only to see one of the doors sliding about very freely before a passenger trying to get off shoved it to one side.
Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this, it's my first time posting on here.

The 810's are not quite in service yet but hopefully will be in the next month. Given the time what you probably saw was 222104 which is the only 222 in full purple livery for the launch of EMR. Can't say I have come across any issues with the doors on the 222s.

Realtime Trains | 1F35 1202 St Pancras International to Sheffield | 10/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 1F35 1202 departure from St Pancras International to Sheffield on 10/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Roger B]

I agree. They are a nuisance.

Which were the first trains to have them? Was it the Voyagers / Pendolinos?

There is more of a tendency for people to pull them down now due to staring at a screen.

And the people who sit in a prime window seat, who angle themselves facing away from the window and go to sleep - with bags and other detritus strewn over the other seats, so noone can sit there. Should be a rule - if you want to sleep - don't bag a window seat.

 

[800001]

Hi all, hopping on this thread to ask if anyone has heard of passenger door problems with the 810s? I was sat on a train at Derby around 13:45 on the 10th November and saw a particularly packed 810 pull up on the platform to my left, only to see one of the doors sliding about very freely before a passenger trying to get off shoved it to one side.
Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this, it's my first time posting on here.

It certainly would not of been a class 810 as these are not carrying people in traffic.

 

[Snow1964]

EMR press release first train in December

No timeline given for when remainder might enter service though

A new dawn breaks as Transport UK and EMR confirms first Aurora train will enter service this December​

• Transport UK and EMR confirm first Aurora from new £400 million fleet will begin running this December
• New trains provide more seats, modern, spacious interiors and enhanced accessibility features
• The state-of-the-art Hitachi Rail built fleet will transform the experience of customers as they travel on the Midland Main Line

An exciting new chapter of Intercity travel will begin this December. Transport UK and East Midlands Railway (EMR) can confirm that the first Aurora train from EMR’s new £400 million fleet will enter service across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.
The state-of-the-art Hitachi Rail built fleet will transform the experience of customers as they travel on the Midland Main Line - providing more seats, modern, spacious interiors, improved air conditioning, free class leading WiFi, plug sockets at every seat and clear customer information screens.
The 33 train bi-mode trains will take advantage of the £1.5 billion Midland Main Line upgrade, with the ability to run on electric overhead lines - dramatically cutting carbon emissions by 66 per cent, meaning quieter and greener journeys too.

A new dawn breaks as Transport UK and EMR confirms first Aurora train will enter service this December | East Midlands Railway News

Transport UK and EMR confirm first Aurora from new £400 million fleet will begin running this December New trains provide more seats, modern, spacious interiors and enhanced accessibility features The state-of-the-art Hitachi Rail built fleet will transform the experience of customers as they...

news.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

EMR press release first train in December

No timeline given for when remainder might enter service though

A new dawn breaks as Transport UK and EMR confirms first Aurora train will enter service this December | East Midlands Railway News

Transport UK and EMR confirm first Aurora from new £400 million fleet will begin running this December New trains provide more seats, modern, spacious interiors and enhanced accessibility features The state-of-the-art Hitachi Rail built fleet will transform the experience of customers as they...

news.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk

Thanks for this. I'm curious to know if you've read any of the other posts on this page

 

[norbitonflyer]

I was sat on a train at Derby around 13:45 on the 10th November and saw a particularly packed 810 pull up on the platform to my left,

If you did, that's is big news, since no-one was expecting them to enter service for at least another two weeks.

 

[Yew]

If you did, that's is big news, since no-one was expecting them to enter service for at least another two weeks.

Whilst it's not out of the question, could it have been one of the more fully liveried Meridians?

 

[Petrichor]

The 810's are not quite in service yet but hopefully will be in the next month. Given the time what you probably saw was 222104 which is the only 222 in full purple livery for the launch of EMR. Can't say I have come across any issues with the doors on the 222s.

Realtime Trains | 1F35 1202 St Pancras International to Sheffield | 10/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 1F35 1202 departure from St Pancras International to Sheffield on 10/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

That makes more sense - in all fairness I didn't actually see the front of it, I just saw the purple side as I looked up through the dirty window of a 170. The timings on that service do match what I saw in person. My apologies for getting that wrong! I thought it was odd that an 810 was carrying passengers this early.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Nov 2025 ==

Whilst it's not out of the question, could it have been one of the more fully liveried Meridians?

Yes, it likely was

 

[Wyrleybart]

Which is a big if given the reliability of Hitachi's 80x units. It was reported elsewhere that yesterday, of GWR's 93 80x sets, no less than 75 had at least one engine isolated.

That is a terrible statistic.
It makes you ponder whether, had GWR not withdrawn the Castles until DfT had signed the deal on the 175s and got at least some of them into traffic, then maybe the 802s were working their "intercity" diagrams and perhaps allowing fleet some decent shed care. Obviously I cant prove it, but I wonder how hard the 802s and thus the 800s are being pushed to operate the service - which isn't even allowing the through Cardiff-Penzance trains in the timetable.

 

[John R]

That is a terrible statistic.
It makes you ponder whether, had GWR not withdrawn the Castles until DfT had signed the deal on the 175s and got at least some of them into traffic, then maybe the 802s were working their "intercity" diagrams and perhaps allowing fleet some decent shed care. Obviously I cant prove it, but I wonder how hard the 802s and thus the 800s are being pushed to operate the service - which isn't even allowing the through Cardiff-Penzance trains in the timetable.

As I understand it, Hitachi is contracted to provide a certain number of sets available each day on the Class 800 fleet, so doubt GWR is asking them to deliver more as that would probably cost a lot being a contract variation.

Class 802s were financed separately though, so I don’t think the same applies to them.

 

[Clarence Yard]

Both the GWR 800 and 802 contracts work on a fixed number of sets to be supplied each day. That hasn’t changed with the reduction in HST GTi sets, nor has the maintenance regime for those sets. The latter has always been mandated to give Hitachi serious shed time.

That’s how Hitachi structure all their 80x contracts and I strongly suspect the 810 units will be similar.

 

[Roger B]

Both the GWR 800 and 802 contracts work on a fixed number of sets to be supplied each day. That hasn’t changed with the reduction in HST GTi sets, nor has the maintenance regime for those sets. The latter has always been mandated to give Hitachi serious shed time.

That’s how Hitachi structure all their 80x contracts and I strongly suspect the 810 units will be similar.

Surely there has to be some incentive for Hitachi to fix the diesel engines - aren't there any financial penalties for making sets available for service, even though engines are inoperable?