Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[QSK19]

Which is what they should be. The longest journey is two hours, and their main job is carrying the daily tidal flow into and back out of London.

Which has been my bone of contention for years and will continue to be.

As I’ve said many times before, if passengers are paying IC-level fares, they are entitled to an IC-level of comfort and service - doesn’t matter whether the entire length of the journey takes 20 minutes. People deserve what they pay for.

I have relatively little issue with the EMR’s Intercity operation effectively being a regional express sort of service (with a 170 refurb spec of interior) - but only as long as the fares reflect that.

 

[jthjth]

Had another trip on an 810 under the wires. Air conditioning was less intense than the last trip, but still noisy. The other thing I noticed was what appeared to be quite a lot of wind noise. Very similar to driving a car with the window open. This was the second coach from the front, the composite first/standard coach. Both this and the air conditioning doesn’t make for a peaceful trip. There were two travelling Hitachi staff poking at the doors, 1st class accessible toilet not working. Coach end doors, the ones between the saloon and the vestibule, not working. PIS displays not working. The seats in 1st do at least line up with the windows.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 May 2026 ==

Which is what they should be. The longest journey is two hours, and their main job is carrying the daily tidal flow into and back out of London.

In Leicestershire at least the service provides a significant local service. Sixth form students communing between Market Harborough and Leicester as an example. The northbound service from Leicester also carries significant traffic judging by the numbers waiting on the platform.

 

[The_Train]

Which is what they should be. The longest journey is two hours, and their main job is carrying the daily tidal flow into and back out of London.

EMR might as well have just tagged onto the 701 order then

 

[QSK19]

EMR might as well have just tagged onto the 701 order then

Alternatively, a 110mph bi-mode derivative of the Class 385 or a Javelin spec if 125mph running had to be kept. And why even bother having first class if we want to put more focus on commuters for a short journey?

Whilst we’re shifting towards speculation with the most recent posts, to bring this back to being OT, I think I saw that 003/004 are no longer at Loughborough (though it was a very quick glance during the commute). Seems they’re no closer to 10-car operation?

 

[JollyGood02]

810013 failed at Leicester on 1D26, currently on the way to Derby as 5D26

 

[ptreanor]

Which is what they should be. The longest journey is two hours, and their main job is carrying the daily tidal flow into and back out of London.

I was referring to the 8xx fleet in general and not specifically the 810s.

 

[GilfachFargoed]

Air conditioning was less intense than the last trip, but still noisy. The other thing I noticed was what appeared to be quite a lot of wind noise. Very similar to driving a car with the window open. This was the second coach from the front, the composite first/standard coach. Both this and the air conditioning doesn’t make for a peaceful trip.

That is disappointing. It is a known issue that was identified in the early days of 800 testing, but does not seem to have been resolved.

 

[jthjth]

That is disappointing. It is a known issue that was identified in the early days of 800 testing, but does not seem to have been resolved.

Air con noise or wind noise? If the latter, what causes it?

 

[Merle Haggard]

My travel on 810s has been limited but I concur that the noise from the air-con fan (in the composite) is pretty intrusive, sounds like a very cheap desk fan with plastic bearings. I personally haven't noticed the wind noise, certainly a big improvement on an Avanti 80x in the front coach where it's very loud.

 

[GilfachFargoed]

Air con noise or wind noise? If the latter, what causes it?

Sorry I should have been more specific, it was/is wind noise that appears to be generated by turbulence from the air-conditioning arrangement on the roof (it being somewhat less streamlined than that of the MkIII etc.).

 

[MCR247]

Had another trip on an 810 under the wires. Air conditioning was less intense than the last trip, but still noisy. The other thing I noticed was what appeared to be quite a lot of wind noise. Very similar to driving a car with the window open. This was the second coach from the front, the composite first/standard coach. Both this and the air conditioning doesn’t make for a peaceful trip.

Sorry I should have been more specific, it was/is wind noise that appears to be generated by turbulence from the air-conditioning arrangement on the roof (it being somewhat less streamlined than that of the MkIII etc.).

Is this wind noise the high pitched whistling type sound you’d hear if you didn’t realise you had a window slightly open and started driving on the motorway?

 

[QSK19]

The air con, for me, is quite loud; but that did help in one respect. It stopped working for around 3 seconds near to Kilby Bridge - I’m assuming that’s the momentary lack of power during the swap-over between diesel & electric.

 

[jthjth]

Is this wind noise the high pitched whistling type sound you’d hear if you didn’t realise you had a window slightly open and started driving on the motorway?

Not high pitched. More akin to having the car window half open. There’s a mixture of that, which varies with train speed, and the continuous air con noise, which is like having your car’s blower fans on a high setting.

 

[800001]

No, just very low speed.

I'm lead to believe it was skated back. Is it confirmed it wasn't?

 

[Merle Haggard]

Which is what they should be. The longest journey is two hours, and their main job is carrying the daily tidal flow into and back out of London.

The 800s were developed under the 'IEP'. The 'I' is a clue to expectations...
The criteria that high speed commuter stock is to be expected for journeys of around 2 hours (actually 2hr 8in for the fast Sheffields) suggests that London - Bristol and possibly London - Manchester (the fastest in the service pattern 2 hr 6 mins) don't deserve Inter City stock either. This might possibly be ontroversial, particularly In the case of the latter.

 

[NSEWonderer]

I believe Class 810s have recieved ORR Safety Approval Seal for 2x5 running aka 10 car formation. Still needs EMRs own final paperwork and then hopefully 10cars are running about on what is much needed capacity.

The letter below pulled from LinkedIn

THE RAILWAYS (INTEROPERABILITY) REGULATIONS 2011. AS AMENDED HITACHI RAIL CLASS 810 UPGRADE (MULTIPLE UNIT OPERATION

I refer to your application for authorisation, received on the 24" April 2026. Following review of your application, I can confirm that ORR grants authorisation under regulation 4(1) (a) of the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011. as amended. This authorisation is for the upgraded Hitachi 810 units, as shown in Appendix A, to allow 2 x 5-car Multiple Unit Operation.

The restrictions or limitations of use on the structural subsystem are those contained on the Declaration of Verification 'HRL-EMR-SFA-CER-00005 (Class 810 EMR Trains DoV)' dated 24t April 2026 and contained in section 5.2 of your technical file, 'RTV-SNO198584-R015 Iss2' dated 15" April 2026. These are related to the Rolling Stock and Control. Command and Signalling structural subsystems.

Your Declaration according to Article 16 (EU) 402/2013 as amended, reference HRL-EMR- SFA-CER-00008 Issue 1.0 (Class 810 EMR CSM Art16 DecI)' dated 24" April 2026 references no open safety requirements at the time of application.
The rolling stock subsystem(s) authorised by this letter must be operated and maintained in accordance with Regulation 20.

 

[JollyGood02]

810013 has once again failed, second consecutive day, this time on 1C44.

 

[jamie_r]

I had my first journey on a Class 810 today (810012 to be precise) and it’s fair to say that it wasn’t smooth sailing!

First up, the horizontal PIS screen in my carriage was only half working, and on the half that was working the scrolling text was very juddery. There is a widescreen display just next to it, but from where I was sat the text was far too small and basically impossible to read. Seemed a bit sloppy for a new train but no big issue.

Then, the whole coach went through quite a horrible horizontal shaking at a few points from Bedford onwards (London-bound). It felt a bit like the ‘hunting’ you get on DLR trains but much stronger and faster. No idea what was going on but it definitely didn’t feel right!

I didn’t find the air conditioning noisy but it was a little warmer than I’d like on a day like today. So, how generous of EMR to cool us down by turning on the sprinklers in our carriage for about half of the journey! I‘m sure this has happened on other trains before but presumably it was water leaking from the air conditioning system? At first it was just two trickles of water from the ceiling, but by the time we‘d arrived at St Pancras there were 7 or 8 spots where water was dripping down, including some were a nasty shade of yellow. It’s baffling to me that this is an issue on trains so new, and in general that whatever the set-up was in the ceiling panels that escaping water could drip directly onto seats/passengers.

 

[kevjs]

Then, the whole coach went through quite a horrible horizontal shaking at a few points from Bedford onwards (London-bound). It felt a bit like the ‘hunting’ you get on DLR trains but much stronger and faster. No idea what was going on but it definitely didn’t feel right!

Heading northwards earlier this week on a Meridian had the same thing somewhere between Luton and Bedford - don't recall having that in the past!

 

[tfw756rider]

I didn’t find the air conditioning noisy but it was a little warmer than I’d like on a day like today. So, how generous of EMR to cool us down by turning on the sprinklers in our carriage for about half of the journey! I‘m sure this has happened on other trains before but presumably it was water leaking from the air conditioning system? At first it was just two trickles of water from the ceiling, but by the time we‘d arrived at St Pancras there were 7 or 8 spots where water was dripping down, including some were a nasty shade of yellow. It’s baffling to me that this is an issue on trains so new, and in general that whatever the set-up was in the ceiling panels that escaping water could drip directly onto seats/passengers.

I'm pretty sure that something similar happened on the first day of service of Class 800 in late 2017. It didn't occur to me that it would happen on an 810 about 8-and-a-half years later.

 

[londonmidland]

Heading northwards earlier this week on a Meridian had the same thing somewhere between Luton and Bedford - don't recall having that in the past!

The southern part of the MML is notorious for this. As you mentioned, particularly between Bedford and Luton. It's been happening for years with the 222s.

 

[Dave61]

I had my first journey on a Class 810 today (810012 to be precise) and it’s fair to say that it wasn’t smooth sailing!

First up, the horizontal PIS screen in my carriage was only half working, and on the half that was working the scrolling text was very juddery. There is a widescreen display just next to it, but from where I was sat the text was far too small and basically impossible to read. Seemed a bit sloppy for a new train but no big issue.

Then, the whole coach went through quite a horrible horizontal shaking at a few points from Bedford onwards (London-bound). It felt a bit like the ‘hunting’ you get on DLR trains but much stronger and faster. No idea what was going on but it definitely didn’t feel right!

I didn’t find the air conditioning noisy but it was a little warmer than I’d like on a day like today. So, how generous of EMR to cool us down by turning on the sprinklers in our carriage for about half of the journey! I‘m sure this has happened on other trains before but presumably it was water leaking from the air conditioning system? At first it was just two trickles of water from the ceiling, but by the time we‘d arrived at St Pancras there were 7 or 8 spots where water was dripping down, including some were a nasty shade of yellow. It’s baffling to me that this is an issue on trains so new, and in general that whatever the set-up was in the ceiling panels that escaping water could drip directly onto seats/passengers.

Oh dear, not an expert my any measure on aircon but my experience from cooling IT server rooms where the air-con turned into a waterfall would suggest problems in either getting rid of condensation on the cooling coils or they simply could not cope with the higher temperatures/humidity. And it is going to be way worse tomorrow

 

[Mikw]

So why all the door faults? Just been on 852019 from Nottigham. Lost about 15 minutes following a late running service, then a other few moments at Leicester because the doors wouldn't open.
What's causing this? Can't be a hard fix surely

 

[Nym]

So why all the door faults? Just been on 852019 from Nottigham. Lost about 15 minutes following a late running service, then a other few moments at Leicester because the doors wouldn't open.
What's causing this? Can't be a hard fix surely

The primary reason is most likely...

Doors are too complicated and no-one really understands how they work any more, the knowledge is held behind layers and layers or intellectual property rights that no-one will share and the equipment layers all come with their own issues.

 

[superkev]

So why all the door faults? Just been on 852019 from Nottigham. Lost about 15 minutes following a late running service, then a other few moments at Leicester because the doors wouldn't open.
What's causing this? Can't be a hard fix surely

For the 810s I wonder if Hitachi changed the door supplier from there usual internal sliding plug door.
K

 

[D365]

Doors are too complicated and no-one really understands how they work any more, the knowledge is held behind layers and layers or intellectual property rights that no-one will share and the equipment layers all come with their own issues.

Or within boxes

But you are, of course, right on the money. Oftentimes it's the electronic door control unit rather than the door(s) itself.

 

[1D54]

All rather quiet on the introduction front.

 

[Amos390]

All rather quiet on the introduction front.

Yeah, they’ve got some units on test out of Newton Aycliffe, old Dalby tests at a halt though since the failure of one or both of the units the other day.

 

[Cowley]

So why all the door faults? Just been on 852019 from Nottigham. Lost about 15 minutes following a late running service, then a other few moments at Leicester because the doors wouldn't open.
What's causing this? Can't be a hard fix surely

Can I just clarify, is 852019 the coach number?

 

[800001]

Can I just clarify, is 852019 the coach number?

It is yes, it is the second carriage (motorcar) of unit 810019.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 May 2026 ==

Observations at the factory this week.

Currently 810020 sat undergoing testing outside in yard.

810017, 021, 022 and 023 all been sat outside undergoing various tests, currently 022 is outside having work undertaken on its doors, with scaffolding structures to allow access.

Unit 810026 seen in a complete state been shunted between test sheds.

Still no idea where 002 is.