Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[Bald Rick]

Is 18/10/26 not written in stone then? What reason could there be for delaying the changeover?

subject of another thread.

But the short version is: there is a LOT of work that goes on behind the scenes to transfer an operator between owners, and that includes between a private owner and a public owner. There’s a team in DFT that is doing this (led by a very capable individual), but they only have so much capacity. Hence the ‘beat rate’ of one every 4 months or so. GTR in May, Chiltern in September.

 

[Russel]

And the new Piccadilly line trains!

Indeed.

New fleet introductions really have become poor.

 

[Trainman40083]

And you will think that will actually make things better?

Yes, but many think it will stay the same or get worse. I doubt it will get better.

 

[Clarence Yard]

Is 18/10/26 not written in stone then? What reason could there be for delaying the changeover?

You are confusing the “Core Term Expiry Date” (CTED) with the actual transfer date. They are being taken back in order of CTED expiry, not on the actual date itself. So the next one to go after Chiltern will be GWR.

The transfer to DfTO doesn’t bring that much change as all the “franchise” TOCs are working to detailed DfT business plans now with regular DfT oversight. So don’t expect anything dramatic to the cl.810 introduction plan on transfer.

 

[tfw756rider]

@IntercitySimon has now reviewed the 810, comparing it to the 802 and 807:

The above is a video review of an East Midlands Railway Class 810 train on a journey from Sheffield to London. The reviewer thinks that overall, the 810 is a bit better than the 807 (which itself he thought was much better than the 802), though still has some issues like poor ride quality, so he concludes that it's "unexcitingly adequate".

 

[WesternLancer]

@IntercitySimon has now reviewed the 810, comparing it to the 802 and 807:

Interesting to watch. Thanks. I think that’s a well balanced review.

 

[alm37]

810018 out on daytime testing today between Doncaster and Newcastle. There’s also a path in for tomorrow for a delivery to Etches Park.

 

[800001]

810018 out on daytime testing today between Doncaster and Newcastle. There’s also a path in for tomorrow for a delivery to Etches Park.

On diesel passing Darlington heading north.

 

[Amos390]

810010 failed and terminated at East Mids Parkway today on 1D66. Service canned in the spot and unit returned to Etches under 5D66, caused a bit of MML disruption having failed in the Up Fast.

 

[liamf656]

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1236 Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs | 31/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1236 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs on 31/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

810016 due to arrive at Etches today

 

[Amos390]

5Q68 on the move (about 40 late). Is that 810017 or 18?

 

[liamf656]

5Q68 on the move (about 40 late). Is that 810017 or 18?

It may be 018, as I believe that will be delivered next. Can't confirm though

 

[Amos390]

It may be 018, as I believe that will be delivered next. Can't confirm though

Ok thanks, has 017 actually hit the mainline yet or not?

 

[liamf656]

Ok thanks, has 017 actually hit the mainline yet or not?

I've not heard any reports of it being sighted out yet but could be wrong. All I know is that it's not due to be delivered for a good while

 

[Trainman40083]

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1236 Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs | 31/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1236 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs on 31/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

810016 due to arrive at Etches today

Cancelled again

 

[800001]

Ok thanks, has 017 actually hit the mainline yet or not?

Not hit the mainline and I've only seen it once at Merchant Park and that was being shunted between production shed roads.

 

[720144]

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1236 Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs | 31/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1236 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs on 31/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

810016 due to arrive at Etches today

There’s still no sign of getting 015 into service after failing 2 Fridays ago on driver training.

 

[Amos390]

Cancelled again

Yea not surprised, it was ROG operated, usually it’s GBRf who do the moves. ROG always make timetables that get cancelled.

 

[800001]

Yea not surprised, it was ROG operated, usually it’s GBRf who do the moves. ROG always make timetables that get cancelled.

But surely they only make a path at Hitachi's request? So presumably Hitachi cancel the move?

 

[Amos390]

But surely they only make a path at Hitachi's request? So presumably Hitachi cancel the move?

Yeah, it’s probably not ROGs fault that the move is cancelled, but I’ve noticed every time a ROG delivery has been pathed, it’s been canned, whereas every time a GBRf move is pathed, it runs (typically GBRf path a run per day for a week and run one of them)

 

[800001]

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1236 Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs | 31/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1236 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs on 31/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

810016 due to arrive at Etches today

Last I knew of 016 it was at Doncaster IEP depot last Wednesday. Unless it then moved back to Aycliffe?

 

[Amos390]

Last I knew of 016 it was at Doncaster IEP depot last Wednesday. Unless it then moved back to Aycliffe?

Yeah it moved back via an overnight test operation, started at Donny instead of Newton Aycliffe the night it went in.

 

[liamf656]

Last I knew of 016 it was at Doncaster IEP depot last Wednesday. Unless it then moved back to Aycliffe?

Yeah it ended up back at Merchant Park but the move to Derby now won't happen today

 

[800001]

Yeah it ended up back at Merchant Park but the move to Derby now won't happen today

810016 was back out on overnight testing on mainline last night.

 

[Amos390]

Good to see, maybe next few weeks for delivery (depending on whether EMR can also shape up 015 or not possibly)

 

[tram21]

810011 failed this morning on its first trip due to 'a problem with the brakes'

 

[1D54]

810011 failed this morning on its first trip due to 'a problem with the brakes'

And that was after departing Leicester 17 down due to the late arrival of the train crew... Never rains..

 

[800001]

Unit has departed Merchant Park on route to Etches Park, presume 810016?

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1236 Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs | 01/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1236 departure from Merchant Park Sidings to Etches Park Sdgs on 01/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[alm37]

Unit has departed Merchant Park on route to Etches Park, presume 810016?

Yes, confirmed by sight just north of York. 018 out on daytime testing today again also.

 

[northernbelle]

@IntercitySimon has now reviewed the 810, comparing it to the 802 and 807:

The above is a video review of an East Midlands Railway Class 810 train on a journey from Sheffield to London. The reviewer thinks that overall, the 810 is a bit better than the 807 (which itself he thought was much better than the 802), though still has some issues like poor ride quality, so he concludes that it's "unexcitingly adequate".

That's interesting about the ride - I thought the ride quality on my 810 this morning was about the best I've experienced on any new train - not quite 'Pendolino', but significantly better than earlier 80x builds.

I thought overall it was a good train, welcoming and comfortable if a bit glitchy tech wise. I'm sure they'll settle down and are a significant upgrade on the trains they are replacing.