Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[QSK19]

Just finished my first 810 trip - a 6 minute dash from Loughborough to East Mids Parkway - and very impressed indeed. Makes the 222 on the way back look very old!

Looking forward to a longer journey, but so far so good.

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The saloon doesn't feel much if any smaller, it's the vestibules where they've saved most of the space I think. I had time at my leisure to try most of the different types of seat in both first, standard and even the cabs and galley ( ) and as a heavily built 18 stone 6 foot plus bloke I'd have no issues with any of them on a 810 journey.

Agreed completely - I wondered where the vestibule seats were, I’m that used to the setup in the 222s

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The FISA LEAN is pretty well known. From the pictures I've seen the legroom looks poor, though, I'd be interested to know what those who have actually been on one think.

One very interesting observation I've made is that there appears to be no floor level bodyside conduit - I assume heating is all underfloor, but even on units that have underfloor heating thus far e.g. the 730 the conduit is still there.

The legroom isn’t that bad when taking everything into account IMO. Not quite as spacious as I was expecting, but nevertheless half decent.

 

[jontyasaurus]

I'm 6ft 3, and my knees would just miss the sides of the indentation on the back of the seat in front. I wouldn't be able to slouch in the seat, but I'd also feel less inclined to, as it felt a lot better ergonomically than the 222 seats (which I have to get up and stretch from several times on a journey to London).

 

[QSK19]

Now that the first 810 is in passenger service, may I suggest a @QSK19-style bet of my own?

No 810s on Sunday morning diagrams until 2027.* I don't know how realistic this is but it's in keeping with their protracted entry into service

[* Luton Airport Parkway is my local station so it's only served by Intercity services on Sunday mornings]

Given it’s practically only a year away, I’ll join you for a flutter on that

 

[AlterEgo]

The 14:00 southbound had a few veg onboard (guilty!]. One person I got talking to who was considerably taller than me commented on the lack of legroom.

Is that a fair assessment? The pictures I've seen suggest the legroom is fine

 

[222001]

Is that a fair assessment? The pictures I've seen suggest the legroom is fine

I could stretch my legs out fully under the seat in front, seemed fine to me, and better than a 222.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is that a fair assessment? The pictures I've seen suggest the legroom is fine

It looks decidedly tight to me. Though of course those who have skinny legs and thus can fit them in the "niche" will be better off than those who like me don't. (The reason I don't like the LEAN is that it totally disregards the fact that men, who are the majority of tall people, generally do not sit comfortably with their knees pressed tight together for obvious physiological reasons).

Raked-back seats are also not good for those with long lower legs. That's one reason the original Class 158 seat (which has both of these negative features - a steep rake AND a niche) is so poor for the tall. I'd point to how the original 158 is incredibly tight for legroom yet the Northern refurbs with "ironing board" seats have absolutely cavernous amounts of space in near enough exactly the same layout.

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I could stretch my legs out fully under the seat in front, seemed fine to me, and better than a 222.

To be fair the 222 isn't exactly spacious. I'd be more comparing it with other 80x which have excellent legroom, the Avanti ones the best of the lot. The trend of late is largely towards more space in new designs and refurbs, with units ordered by Abellio/Transport UK being the odd exception (all new units ordered by that group have had unusually tight layouts in modern terms - the 720, the 730 (both subclasses), the 196s, the 777 (though admittedly specced by Merseytravel) and the FLIRTs and now possibly the 810 - perhaps their managers are short!)

 

[NSEWonderer]

The TMS system sends an alarm to the driver if the toilet had been occupied closed and locked for more than 15 mins! No safe space for fare evadors lol. The driver now deals with all CFA and PAU events.

Door control is selected by the drive by the ASDO system on the TMS ( well actually they train tells the driver what doors it's going to open) the drive stops in correct position and authorises door release to the TM. The TM can open local door 1st, step out then release all required and selected doors. The TM then does the normal PTI dispatch procedure.

Toilet alert is similar to that on 701s. Can be quite annoying, at random.

 

[BayPaul]

Impressively brave of EMR having the first run as a midweek peak time trip on their longest route! They were obviously (correctly) confident that it would have a smooth trip.

 

[Killingworth]

Impressively brave of EMR having the first run as a midweek peak time trip on their longest route! They were obviously (correctly) confident that it would have a smooth trip.

Pedantic point, isn't Norwich-Liverpool EMR's longest route?

 

[QSK19]

Impressively brave of EMR having the first run as a midweek peak time trip on their longest route! They were obviously (correctly) confident that it would have a smooth trip.

Fair point! They could have selected a much more “favourable” service to launch on, but clearly it’s paid off.

Very early days, but overall not bad at all based on all our various feedback.

 

[Maddog83]

Can you tell from the front which is the first class end, you could tell on the class 222s by the yellow paint on the bar on the coupling.

Small white dot /circle on the front display screen on the left hand side if it's the 1st class end.

 

[Trainben]

Market Harborough this evening. I was impressed with how quiet it is, especially while stationary at the platform.

 

[Bob85]

Pedantic point, isn't Norwich-Liverpool EMR's longest route?

For EMR Intercity (routes that will actually use 810s) it's not even the longest route there. Lincoln to London is longer by duration, that and the routes via Melton Mowbray at night and on diversion days.


I wonder when we'll see the 810s on the first passenger runs to Lincoln...

 

[WesternLancer]

For EMR Intercity (routes that will actually use 810s) it's not even the longest route there. Lincoln to London is longer by duration, that and the routes via Melton Mowbray at night and on diversion days.


I wonder when we'll see the 810s on the first passenger runs to Lincoln...

Dft might of course ditch the lincoln to London route? I wonder if it will survive.

 

[LowLevel]

Dft might of course ditch the lincoln to London route? I wonder if it will survive.

I imagine it will. It's main reason for existing is to provide sufficient peak time capacity from Lincoln to Nottingham.

 

[liamf656]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but 810012 is at Etches Park. After that we should receive 013 and 011

 

[Chris125]

How does the internal engine noise compare to the Meridians? A tricky thing to judge from video clips.

 

[800001]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but 810012 is at Etches Park. After that we should receive 013 and 011

Arrived last week, came straight from overnight testing.

 

[Bob85]

Dft might of course ditch the lincoln to London route? I wonder if it will survive.

Well it's at least present with the upcoming timetable change, so it's safe to assume that we'll probably see 810s on it at some point.

 

[QSK19]

How does the internal engine noise compare to the Meridians? A tricky thing to judge from video clips.

I could definitely hear them (nothing is going to be silent when in diesel mode), however the train hummed along nicely and quietly relatively-speaking.

 

[liamf656]

810006 is expected out in service tomorrow, same diagram as today

 

[DDB]

So how many 810s ready for service with EMR are there now and how is that number doing against the withdrawal of the 222s?

Am I right that 2 sets are required for training but those sets aren't quite ready for passenger use anyway?

It sounds like they have JUST managed to arrive in time as the 222s go but it is or has been very very tight? I assume as most of the 222s haven't actually got new homes yet there will be less pressure to withdraw them after a certain point and the 810 deliveries will be able to get ahead?

 

[jontyasaurus]

How does the internal engine noise compare to the Meridians? A tricky thing to judge from video clips.

A lot quieter (and with less vibration) than the 22x engines, both inside and outside. I've not been on a lot of 802s but it felt comparable. The electric traction motors are louder when starting off, same as the other 80x, but hardly loud or annoying. I didn't even realise for several years that 22x are diesel-electric, not just plain diesel!

 

[tram21]

Dft might of course ditch the lincoln to London route? I wonder if it will survive.

It'll definitely stay. It's a popular route and provides a good link in the morning.

 

[liamf656]

So how many 810s ready for service with EMR are there now and how is that number doing against the withdrawal of the 222s?

Am I right that 2 sets are required for training but those sets aren't quite ready for passenger use anyway?

810006 - Ready for service
810008 - Training unit, needs more work doing
810009 - same as 008
810010 - Been in service
810012 - Should be ready for service imminently

No others are leased by EMR yet

 

[norbitonflyer]

I could definitely hear them (nothing is going to be silent when in diesel mode), however the train hummed along nicely and quietly relatively-speaking.

I couldn't tell when the engines kicked in on the way north or cut out on the way back, but the engiens were definietely working when i left the train at Leicester (!)

I did hear the thud as the pan dropped.

 

[duffield]

An important point none of our pioneering passengers of today have mentioned yet:

What's the mobile reception like? Surely it's better than on the 222s?

 

[Railperf]

the 810 seems to be performing well today. On its last trip to Sheffield now. interestingly, the 222 following it on the Nottingham is right behind it, so not seeing any huge advantage on electric yet, unless it is being driven gently.

 

[liamf656]

An important point none of our pioneering passengers of today have mentioned yet:

What's the mobile reception like? Surely it's better than on the 222s?

Much better, even on the Manton diversion

 

[43102EMR]

the 810 seems to be performing well today. On its last trip to Sheffield now. interestingly, the 222 following it on the Nottingham is right behind it, so not seeing any huge advantage on electric yet, unless it is being driven gently.

Apparently it developed several faults during the day, would seem they’ve been rectified now hopefully if it managed to complete its full diagram today.