Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[800001]

see if the accessible loo in first class is working.... (wasn't on the one I used yesterday evening and it seems this is a frequent point of failure from posts on here so interesting to know if that is in fact a regular problem)

Other glitch seems to be boiling water supply for drinks on trolleys not working

Also note that some carriages have more table seats than others in standard so if you have a preference that is worth bearing in mind

The fact that there are no reservations working on the sets yet means if you are travelling end to end it's first come first served for your seat of choice so you can get there early and board and pick what you prefer.

Reservations do work on the sets. It is just that EMR have suspended them while they introduce the fleet.

 

[Trainman40083]

Reservations do work on the sets. Oh is just that EMR have suspended them while they introduce the fleet.

I think the complication comes if they have to swap a 810 unit with a 222. So best not reserve any seats. I guess an alternative would be to reserve the number of seats common to each type.. No idea what that be, 40/50? But for many passengers they need the certainty of a seat.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think the complication comes if they have to swap a 810 unit with a 222. So best not reserve any seats. I guess an alternative would be to reserve the number of seats common to each type.. No idea what that be, 40/50? But for many passengers they need the certainty of a seat.

As long as people are behaving as they should (big ask I know), priority seats deal with the situation of people who NEED a seat. That others prefer to guarantee one is another issue - it's probably best not to reserve seats if it's likely you won't be able to honour them.

 

[Denis103]

810006 1F17 0832 StP Shf over 40 late due to a defect terminated at Chesterfield. 1100 return started Chesterfield and over 15 late.

 

[Peterthegreat]

810010 on 10.35 Sheffield to St Pancras.
Only one (of four?) toilet working.

 

[Killingworth]

I think the complication comes if they have to swap a 810 unit with a 222. So best not reserve any seats. I guess an alternative would be to reserve the number of seats common to each type.. No idea what that be, 40/50? But for many passengers they need the certainty of a seat.

Same basic reasons why they must have abandoned seat reservations on Liverpool - Norwich. A mixture of 158 and 170 units where 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 car trains may run between Sheffield and Manchester. Regular users know where to find the most space. Tough on those who don't, especially with lots of luggage and/or infirmities.

Is there a practical answer that would help those joining at all stations on a route? I'd usually head for the front carriages at St Pancras, Leicester, Derby or Sheffield.

 

[Trainman40083]

Same basic reasons why they must have abandoned seat reservations on Liverpool - Norwich. A mixture of 158 and 170 units where 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 car trains may run between Sheffield and Manchester. Regular users know where to find the most space. Tough on those who don't, especially with lots of luggage and/or infirmities.

Is there a practical answer that would help those joining at all stations on a route? I'd usually head for the front carriages at St Pancras, Leicester, Derby or Sheffield.

Now, if I recall, the reason they gave at the time for Liverpool to Norwich route, was to save the planet. No more printers, no more bits of cardboard, and no staff time to put them on the train. I never have a reserved seat on any of the trains between Sheffield, Derby and London. I just head for coach D.

 

[WesternLancer]

Reservations do work on the sets. Oh is just that EMR have suspended them while they introduce the fleet.

Sorry. Yes I meant that but wrongly phrased my post. Thanks for clarifying it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jan 2026 ==

One thing I’ve noticed on the trains is that for a good number of people first class is not clear enough.
I’ve used the sets on weekend first and advance first a few times now including yesterday.

Yesterday about six people over the course of the journey had to be asked to move or offered to upgrade in my carriage.

I’m sure that none of those people were fare evaders. They just didn’t notice.

In my view the first class signage is too subtle. When carriage internal door open it’s in the door pockets as signs on doors.

Seat colours and fabric rather similar to standard as opposed to the clearly different colours on a meridian. Especially when those were red and blue.

No window stickers with 1 on them which would be helpful.

I’m sure on board staff must notice this.

 

[Denis103]

Sorry. Yes I meant that but wrongly phrased my post. Thanks for clarifying it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jan 2026 ==

One thing I’ve noticed on the trains is that for a good number of people first class is not clear enough.
I’ve used the sets on weekend first and advance first a few times now including yesterday.

Yesterday about six people over the course of the journey had to be asked to move or offered to upgrade in my carriage.

I’m sure that none of those people were fare evaders. They just didn’t notice.

In my view the first class signage is too subtle. When carriage internal door open it’s in the door pockets as signs on doors.

Seat colours and fabric rather similar to standard as opposed to the clearly different colours on a meridian. Especially when those were red and blue.

No window stickers with 1 on them which would be helpful.

I’m sure on board staff must notice this.

I'm sure a thin yellow stripe above wouldn't harm the appearance to signify 1st class as today.

 

[LowLevel]

Same basic reasons why they must have abandoned seat reservations on Liverpool - Norwich. A mixture of 158 and 170 units where 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 car trains may run between Sheffield and Manchester. Regular users know where to find the most space. Tough on those who don't, especially with lots of luggage and/or infirmities.

Is there a practical answer that would help those joining at all stations on a route? I'd usually head for the front carriages at St Pancras, Leicester, Derby or Sheffield.

Seat reservations were removed on Liverpool Norwich long before 170s were even planned to run on the route. Just before COVID the plans were announced. They were seen as a pain and the printers were life expired anyway so were binned off when the HSTs finished.

A small minority of passengers liked them, the majority and the staff hated them.

"My seat is in this coach but there's no room here for my luggage"

"The train has gone round Dore Curve or via Barrow Hill so the reservations are in the wrong half of the train"

"The train has restarted at Nottingham so the reservations aren't there"

"It's short formed so the train is 100% reserved but some of those with reservations are still on the platform because they can't fit in the doors"

"I asked for facing but it's backwards"

"Someone pressed the wrong button and printed tomorrow's labels by mistake"

"The Widnes kids thought it was funny to take all the labels off and bin them"

"8 very drunk football fans are in our seats and we want the guard to go and remove them"

 

[Killingworth]

Seat reservations were removed on Liverpool Norwich long before 170s were even planned to run on the route. Just before COVID the plans were announced. They were seen as a pain and the printers were life expired anyway so were binned off when the HSTs finished.

A small minority of passengers liked them, the majority and the staff hated them.

"My seat is in this coach but there's no room here for my luggage"

"The train has gone round Dore Curve or via Barrow Hill so the reservations are in the wrong half of the train"

"The train has restarted at Nottingham so the reservations aren't there"

"It's short formed so the train is 100% reserved but some of those with reservations are still on the platform because they can't fit in the doors"

"I asked for facing but it's backwards"

"Someone pressed the wrong button and printed tomorrow's labels by mistake"

"The Widnes kids thought it was funny to take all the labels off and bin them"

"8 very drunk football fans are in our seats and we want the guard to go and remove them"

Excellent response, and true! Seen most of these. Caught out several times, especially when 2 cars turned up instead of 4 and had to stand the whole way.

In days long gone reservations had to be paid for and that added more justification for complaints. Good that more Norwich-Liverpool are now 4, 5 and 6 car.

Anyway, back to 810s. I must find one to try, maybe next Saturday

 

[222001]

One thing I’ve noticed on the trains is that for a good number of people first class is not clear enough.
I’ve used the sets on weekend first and advance first a few times now including yesterday.

Yesterday about six people over the course of the journey had to be asked to move or offered to upgrade in my carriage.

I’m sure that none of those people were fare evaders. They just didn’t notice.

I also noticed this on Saturday, it seems to especially be a problem in the composite coach. We called at Leicester, and coach D was positioned where the majority were waiting to board. A good 3-5 people sat in first - the TM immediately came into the coach and announced that this is first class - all the people who took a seat at Leicester got up and moved.

 

[WesternLancer]

I'm sure a thin yellow stripe above wouldn't harm the appearance to signify 1st class as today.

Indeed. Something EMR actually re introduced when they started the franchise.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jan 2026 ==

I also noticed this on Saturday, it seems to especially be a problem in the composite coach. We called at Leicester, and coach D was positioned where the majority were waiting to board. A good 3-5 people sat in first - the TM immediately came into the coach and announced that this is first class - all the people who took a seat at Leicester got up and moved.

I was in the rear coach but I bet it’s more problematic in the composite.

 

[Amos390]

I think the complication comes if they have to swap a 810 unit with a 222. So best not reserve any seats. I guess an alternative would be to reserve the number of seats common to each type.. No idea what that be, 40/50? But for many passengers they need the certainty of a seat.

If they do the set swap they try and make it so that the 222 is a 7-car seeing as the 5-car have less seats, not sure for how much longer that can last though

 

[Trainman40083]

If they do the set swap they try and make it so that the 222 is a 7-car seeing as the 5-car have less seats, not sure for how much longer that can last though

I thought there was only one 7 car Class 222 left in service, so that must be hard

 

[LowLevel]

I think set 004 has been stood down today, rumours suggested it was being, so no more 7 cars.

 

[Kite159]

I also noticed this on Saturday, it seems to especially be a problem in the composite coach. We called at Leicester, and coach D was positioned where the majority were waiting to board. A good 3-5 people sat in first - the TM immediately came into the coach and announced that this is first class - all the people who took a seat at Leicester got up and moved.

There will always be some chancers, sitting in first class to get a table seat together in the hope the guard doesn't come round checking tickets.
Probably more so on the 810s now the number of table seats have been reduced in some coaches

 

[WesternLancer]

There will always be some chancers, sitting in first class to get a table seat together in the hope the guard doesn't come round checking tickets.
Probably more so on the 810s now the number of table seats have been reduced in some coaches

This wasn’t my experience at all on Sunday as it happens. One person was an elderly lady for example. All were lone travellers.

I’ve certainly seen examples of what you describe but this wasn’t it. Carriage was staffed to as stewards popping in and out of the pantry area so a chancer would realise they were going to be picked up.

As I said the labelling is far too muted.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Bit late, but here are my notes from a trip earlier today:

26/1/26 1035 Sheff-StP

In Coach B, six tables (less in other coaches. 810010. Aircon or something a bit of a constant drone at first but far less noticeable on the move. Engines started 1027. Far less engine noise and vibration than on a 222, both stationary and on the move. Seats firm but comfortable. Nice and warm on a cold day. Table seat - good window alignment, but charging points hard to see and my 3-pin worked but USB didn't (same with the one opposite). Charging stopped when we changed to electric by Kilby Bridge then came back about 5 mins later. Still no USB power on electric.

First trolley appearance N of Leicester. Back through S of Bedford, some trouble with the water he said. Filter coffee bag: coffee OK but nothing special, hot enough.

Not very full, less than a quarter leaving Sheff. And still loads of free pairs of seats from Leic.
Wifi needs an email address but a fake one works - got 3Mb/s nr Chesterfield.

GPS worked fine. I checked and got a steady ~110mph N of Ambergate and at Duffield. The train didn't actually *feel* that fast at those points, and the ride was pretty good all the way I thought.

810012 was stabled outside Derby.

The accessible loo in first class was displaying "out of order" as I passed it at StP. Didn't check the other loos.

Timings (to nearest 5 secs): Nothing ahead of us according to Traksy until Cricklewood area, so a pretty clear run. Dep Sheffield 1035:20, Dore S Jn 1041:45 (due 1039:30); Chesterfield 1047:55-1049:15 (due 1046-1047:30); Derby 1106:25-1108:10 (due 1106-08), using up the 2mins of padding in the schedule; EM Parkway 1117:15 (due 1117:30) but 2 mins padding at Spondon; Leicester 1129:30-1133:05 (due 1131-33) after 1.5 mins padding at Loughboro; Kettering 1151:20 (due 1151); Wellingboro 1155:30 (due 1155); ~110mph over Sharnbrook summit; Bedford 1203:50 (due 1204:30) after 1 min padding; St Albans 1219:59 (due 1222); Cricklewood 1228:10 (due 1229:30), briefly slowing for a Thameslink crossing to slow lines ahead.

StP stopped just outside at 1234:05-1237:25 to allow the 1232 and 1235 departures, and arrived 1239:35 (due 1239).

 

[Amos390]

Bit late, but here are my notes from a trip earlier today:

26/1/26 1035 Sheff-StP

In Coach B, six tables (less in other coaches. 810010. Aircon or something a bit of a constant drone at first but far less noticeable on the move. Engines started 1027. Far less engine noise and vibration than on a 222, both stationary and on the move. Seats firm but comfortable. Nice and warm on a cold day. Table seat - good window alignment, but charging points hard to see and my 3-pin worked but USB didn't (same with the one opposite). Charging stopped when we changed to electric by Kilby Bridge then came back about 5 mins later. Still no USB power on electric.

First trolley appearance N of Leicester. Back through S of Bedford, some trouble with the water he said. Filter coffee bag: coffee OK but nothing special, hot enough.

Not very full, less than a quarter leaving Sheff. And still loads of free pairs of seats from Leic.
Wifi needs an email address but a fake one works - got 3Mb/s nr Chesterfield.

GPS worked fine. I checked and got a steady ~110mph N of Ambergate and at Duffield. The train didn't actually *feel* that fast at those points, and the ride was pretty good all the way I thought.

810012 was stabled outside Derby.

The accessible loo in first class was displaying "out of order" as I passed it at StP. Didn't check the other loos.

Timings (to nearest 5 secs): Nothing ahead of us according to Traksy until Cricklewood area, so a pretty clear run. Dep Sheffield 1035:20, Dore S Jn 1041:45 (due 1039:30); Chesterfield 1047:55-1049:15 (due 1046-1047:30); Derby 1106:25-1108:10 (due 1106-08), using up the 2mins of padding in the schedule; EM Parkway 1117:15 (due 1117:30) but 2 mins padding at Spondon; Leicester 1129:30-1133:05 (due 1131-33) after 1.5 mins padding at Loughboro; Kettering 1151:20 (due 1151); Wellingboro 1155:30 (due 1155); ~110mph over Sharnbrook summit; Bedford 1203:50 (due 1204:30) after 1 min padding; St Albans 1219:59 (due 1222); Cricklewood 1228:10 (due 1229:30), briefly slowing for a Thameslink crossing to slow lines ahead.

StP stopped just outside at 1234:05-1237:25 to allow the 1232 and 1235 departures, and arrived 1239:35 (due 1239).

Wow, rare occurrence as of late that the 810 arrives OT, normally they’re 3-5 mins late. Also, you mentioned 810012 stables, but any signs of 011 as that one got pulled from a service a few weeks back due to some sort of issue and I haven’t seen it since, is it very broken or do they just not need it?

 

[bunnahabhain]

Now, if I recall, the reason they gave at the time for Liverpool to Norwich route, was to save the planet. No more printers, no more bits of cardboard, and no staff time to put them on the train. I never have a reserved seat on any of the trains between Sheffield, Derby and London. I just head for coach D.

In truth the reservations caused more hassle than not.

If they were only in the Norwich portion (A/B) it became overcrowded to the point of silliness with C/D being fairly lightly loaded on a lot of services.

If they were in all 4 then you then ran the risk of shortforming and half the train losing their reservations (usually C/D).

If there was disruption you could then end up with the wrong half going through to Norwich so cancelling all reservations anyway.

If you had a 153 or 156 (or 158889) turn up you couldn't place reservations anyway as the seat numbers didn't line up (156s were numbered facing and backwards so tables had the same numbers both sides).

Once the whole refund if you couldn't sit in your seat but you've reserved one thing came in it was the nail in the coffin.

 

[Trainman40083]

In truth the reservations caused more hassle than not.

If they were only in the Norwich portion (A/B) it became overcrowded to the point of silliness with C/D being fairly lightly loaded on a lot of services.

If they were in all 4 then you then ran the risk of shortforming and half the train losing their reservations (usually C/D).

If there was disruption you could then end up with the wrong half going through to Norwich so cancelling all reservations anyway.

If you had a 153 or 156 (or 158889) turn up you couldn't place reservations anyway as the seat numbers didn't line up (156s were numbered facing and backwards so tables had the same numbers both sides).

Once the whole refund if you couldn't sit in your seat but you've reserved one thing came in it was the nail in the coffin.

I certainly knew where to sit coming back from Manchester. But it seems many didn't know, which part to sit in, for stations beyond Nottingham. Saw a few times, EMR on Twitter told people to be in the front two coaches. Well, yes, from Sheffield, but not earlier.

 

[tram21]

There will always be some chancers, sitting in first class to get a table seat together in the hope the guard doesn't come round checking tickets.
Probably more so on the 810s now the number of table seats have been reduced in some coaches

I had a similar experience to WesternLancer, many people sat there/ boarding in the first class coaches, completely oblivious to the fact its first class.

I had one where the train manager kept repeating 'The signage is completely unclear and I apologise for that '

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jan 2026 ==

Wow, rare occurrence as of late that the 810 arrives OT, normally they’re 3-5 mins late.

Personally I wouldn't say that's true, other than the fact the timings are quite tight on the MML.

We made up 5 minutes on Saturday on my 810 journey after leaving Nottingham a little late and arriving London bang on time. The 222s are far worse at timekeeping with so many having engines out.

 

[duffield]

Is it my imagination or does the noisy A/C on class 810s get quieter once the doors have closed and the train is on the move? I was wondering if having the doors open letting in cold air at St. Pancras meant the A/C was working extra hard (the noise was *very* intrusive when we were at the platform). The noise seemed to fade to "bearable" - not immediately, but a few minutes after we left London - maybe when the air temperature got to some sort of near equilibrium? I was trying to take into account the fact that there was more external noise once we were on the move, but even allowing for this the A/C did seem to settle down.

I finally got to notice the "toilet status" indicators. They are ridiculous - they appear briefly every couple of minutes as part of the carriage loading display, so tiny and hard to see that they are virtually impossible to make out from the far end of the coach. I couldn't even tell if they were actually working since I never saw them change colour, I guess they go red when a toilet is in use?

It's probably easier to go and have a look than wait for these indicators to come round and squint at them in a puzzled fashion, which is perhaps only mildly annoying if you're fully mobile, but extremely inconvenient if you have reduced mobility and it's going to be fairly laborious and possibly painful trip. It's like no-one seriously considered the PRM implications of doing the toilet indicator like this as opposed to the straightforward, constantly displayed and easily visible indicators on the class 222s.

Edit: Putting aside the design issues, is it true that many of the 810 teething troubles have been dealt with or subsided to a low level now? Or was I just lucky that nothing went wrong between London and Nottingham on my trip today?

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes. What is it about the noisy air con? Wasn’t reasonably quiet air conditioning achieved on the mk3 so some decades ago.
What is it that’s changed over time.

Must be a reason as I doubt designers want it deliberately noisy.

 

[Richard Scott]

Yes. What is it about the noisy air con? Wasn’t reasonably quiet air conditioning achieved on the mk3 so some decades ago.
What is it that’s changed over time.

Must be a reason as I doubt designers want it deliberately noisy.

A complete guess here but assume all air con equipment was underfloor in a mk3, possibly not so in modern units due to traction equipment using that space?

 

[eastwestdivide]

Is it my imagination or does the noisy A/C on class 810s get quieter once the doors have closed and the train is on the move

That was my impression too. I boarded maybe 20 mins before departure at Sheffield and immediately noticed the noisy drone, but it was only rereading my initial notes later in the journey that I realised it hadn't been noticeable. And it wasn't as if the train was significantly noisier once under way and masking the aircon noise.

 

[duffield]

That was my impression too. I boarded maybe 20 mins before departure at Sheffield and immediately noticed the noisy drone, but it was only rereading my initial notes later in the journey that I realised it hadn't been noticeable. And it wasn't as if the train was significantly noisier once under way and masking the aircon noise.

It does seem to make sense that the A/C would work a lot harder and so be noisier when a) The doors are open and b) The ambient temperature is either significantly lower or higher than the A/C's "target" temperature. It's certainly a relief if (as it appears) that is the case, since sitting at St. Pancras, I was thinking it was going to make the whole trip so unpleasant that I'd be actively avoiding the 810s while the 222s were still around!

I suppose the odd thing is that this phenomenon is not evident to me on (say) class 222s, since I'd have thought it might affect any train with A/C. Maybe the huge space-wasteful vestibules on the 222s have something to do with it? Or maybe the 222 A/C just isn't powerful enough to be so noisy when running flat out.

 

[WesternLancer]

A complete guess here but assume all air con equipment was underfloor in a mk3, possibly not so in modern units due to traction equipment using that space?

Good point there.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes. What is it about the noisy air con? Wasn’t reasonably quiet air conditioning achieved on the mk3 so some decades ago.
What is it that’s changed over time.

Must be a reason as I doubt designers want it deliberately noisy.

The Mk3 aircon was beyond weak, particularly in summer. I think I prefer the modern noisy type, at least it circulates air with enough force that there is some movement in it. That indeed may be why it's noisy (that sort of hissing noise is usually caused by air turbulence at the outlets).

It also helps drown out idiots playing stuff out of phones.

If anyone finds it impossibly annoying, it's exactly the sort of sound noise cancelling earphones are good at cancelling out, by the way.

The noise I find most irritating on 8xx is the whine you get from the electrical equipment when on electric mode. For some reason I find it's by far the worst on Lumo's units, on the 810s it didn't seem too bad.