Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[800001]

I thought this too. There was talk somewhere of Hitachi being given their marching orders from Old Dalby, not sure how true that is though

003 and 004 are still based there and my understanding is that the line is fully booked with other work preventing more units for Hitachi being based there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Aug 2026 ==

Can they really gun the engines and get a decent speed up at Long Marston? I wonder if the issue is one that running at 50mph round the Long Marston loop just won't find and that you need to drive it like you would on the mainline. Especially since one known issue with the 810s is heat management.

EDIT: This is all idle speculation on my part, I have no knowledge or any axe to grind,

What is the issue with heat management? Not aware of that being an issue?

 

[Amos390]

003 and 004 are still based there and my understanding is that the line is fully booked with other work preventing more units for Hitachi being based there.

Yes 3 and 4 are still there and still running out every day (or thereabouts) onto the mainline testing something or other, seems to be 10-car testing between Dalby and Derby/Sheffield/Stoke with units running as 10 to Derby then 5 to Sheffield and 5 to Stoke. Wonder how long left on those 2 units now?

Presuming the other units there you’re referring to are the new LUL stock that go to test?

 

[jfowkes]

What is the issue with heat management? Not aware of that being an issue?

I was my understand that at least some issues with the 810s are due to heat (though not necessarily to do with the engines). But this is just something I've picked up from the forum (e.g. below quotes), not anything I really know...

Heat, in short. Wiring looms and other circuitry are enclosed in tighter spaces and in closer proximity to things like heat exchangers vs the rest of the fleet. Drivers also complain the cabs become unbearably hot, where key safety systems are located e.g. AWS

The wiring looms in tighter enclosed spaces were the cause of the several 'thermal incidents'.

 

[HST43277]

810012 terminating at Kettering, fault on train.

 

[trebor79]

I'm sat on one at the moment. Immediate impression is that the ventilation system is LOUD. I know the other IEPs are noisier in this regard than what they replaced, but this sounds like a couple of Dysons in the ceiling. Constant whooping and low pitched whistling. At least it helps block out the twerp having a speakerphone conversation.

 

[Merle Haggard]

810012 terminating at Kettering, fault on train.

Given on RTT as 'fault with the brakes'. Possible cautious after yesterday?

 

[londonmidland]

I'm sat on one at the moment. Immediate impression is that the ventilation system is LOUD. I know the other IEPs are noisier in this regard than what they replaced, but this sounds like a couple of Dysons in the ceiling. Constant whooping and low pitched whistling. At least it helps block out the twerp having a speakerphone conversation.

The outside is even worse. For a modern train, the cooling fans are ridiculously loud.

 

[trebor79]

The outside is even worse. For a modern train, the cooling fans are ridiculously loud.

Just arriving at St P now having got on at Kettering and that's quite long enough for me. It's painful to listen to constantly. How can Stadtler, Siemens and Bombardier manage to make whisper quiet ventilation? I'm guessing it's all cheap tat on the IEP.

 

[jfowkes]

I'm sat on one at the moment. Immediate impression is that the ventilation system is LOUD. I know the other IEPs are noisier in this regard than what they replaced, but this sounds like a couple of Dysons in the ceiling. Constant whooping and low pitched whistling. At least it helps block out the twerp having a speakerphone conversation.

The outside is even worse. For a modern train, the cooling fans are ridiculously loud.

Just arriving at St P now having got on at Kettering and that's quite long enough for me. It's painful to listen to constantly. How can Stadtler, Siemens and Bombardier manage to make whisper quiet ventilation? I'm guessing it's all cheap tat on the IEP.

As I said above, I'm going to make a guess this is a result of pushing the limits of thermal management. The 810s have crammed all the gubbins from a "normal" bi-mode 80x into a smaller space and so I'm thinking the fans have to work very hard to remove heat from the train (both from the AC and also the onboard electronics and the traction systems). And they're running in +30C air temperatures in direct sunlight. And it's only going to get warmer. I personally predict a particularly bad week for EMR.

 

[Paul472426]

Given on RTT as 'fault with the brakes'. Possible cautious after yesterday?

Ran perfectly for me last night. Didn't miss a beat

 

[trebor79]

As I said above, I'm going to make a guess this is a result of pushing the limits of thermal management. The 810s have crammed all the gubbins from a "normal" bi-mode 80x into a smaller space and so I'm thinking the fans have to work very hard to remove heat from the train (both from the AC and also the onboard electronics and the traction systems). And they're running in +30C air temperatures in direct sunlight. And it's only going to get warmer. I personally predict a particularly bad week for EMR.

I'm not sure that fully explains it. Stuff might be more crammed in, but it's the same amount of heat that needs shifting. The actual heat load is the same.
I think it's just a cheap and nasty HVAC system.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I'm not sure that fully explains it. Stuff might be more crammed in, but it's the same amount of heat that needs shifting. The actual heat load is the same.
I think it's just a cheap and nasty HVAC system.

I would have thought the specification would define what ambient noise levels the air conditioning produces at full capacity inside the coach

 

[Merle Haggard]

Ran perfectly for me last night. Didn't miss a beat

My reference to 'yesterday' was with regard to 810018's smoke production put down to a brake problem.

 

[jfowkes]

I'm not sure that fully explains it. Stuff might be more crammed in, but it's the same amount of heat that needs shifting. The actual heat load is the same.
I think it's just a cheap and nasty HVAC system.

Yeah but if it's crammed in more then airflow is worse, heat from the bits in the middle finds it harder to escape etc. The geometry and volume of a system is an important part of heat management. But also yeah I'm speculating wildly.

It would also not surprise me if the HVAC was cheap and nasty.

 

[sh24]

As I understand it, the main source of noise for HVAC is the ducting. If smaller than optimal for the airflow it generates a lot of the ambient noise notable on the 810.

 

[Amos390]

810010 off 1F15 at St Pancras and headed for Etches under 5Z15, M8 ‘Problem With The Train’

 

[Unobrow]

810010 off 1F15 at St Pancras and headed for Etches under 5Z15, M8 ‘Problem With The Train’

Apparently brakes wouldn’t release before it was cancelled, but they must have sorted it for it to leave as 5Z15. I’ve also seen that 014 on 1C14 has power issues but I think is coping and still in service?

 

[1D54]

I’ve also seen that 014 on 1C14 has power issues but I think is coping and still in service?

Left STP 13 down and has only lost a further 3 going through Spondon so hopefully is fine.

 

[Killingworth]

Letter from Neil Grabham to Stakeholders just received. Apologies for formatting. Full letter attached below

12 August 2026
Dear Stakeholder,
I am writing to let you know that East Midlands Railway (EMR), operated by Transport UK, will increase its Intercity
timetable from Monday 31 August. This is the first step in a series of planned timetable improvements, made
possible by greater operational stability across our Intercity fleet.
The change follows the introduction of a temporary reduced timetable on Monday 20 July. That timetable was
introduced in response to the performance of Hitachi Rail's new Class 810 fleet and the reduced availability of
EMR's existing Class 222 fleet due to maintenance issues, which significantly affected our ability to deliver a
consistent Intercity service for customers.
The temporary timetable was introduced to better align the number of services operated with the trains available
each day, providing a more reliable and predictable service while EMR worked closely with Hitachi Rail and other
partners to address the fleet challenges. As part of this work, we have consistently pressed Hitachi Rail for
improvements and have agreed an integrated action plan to deliver them, with Hitachi's Global Executive
Leadership team now directly involved.
Since its introduction, the revised timetable has delivered the operational stability it was designed to achieve,
reducing short-notice cancellations and enabling a more dependable service across the Midland Main Line. While
further work remains to improve fleet performance and reliability, the progress made in recent weeks provides a
solid foundation for increasing services from 31 August.
We recognise that the reduced timetable has had a significant impact on our customers, staff and businesses, and
we apologise for the disruption caused. Our customers deserve a reliable railway that responds swiftly and
decisively when things go wrong. Restoring the full Intercity timetable remains a key priority.
We have been strongly supported by the Department for Transport (DfT) in exploring all possible options to
restore the timetable and deliver this uplift that will alleviate some of the challenges faced by customers,
communities, staff and businesses. We will continue to work closely with DfT, DFTO and Hitachi to deliver the
improvements required, and ensure we can restore a full timetable as soon as possible.
From Monday 31 August, EMR will increase its Intercity operation from 87% to 92% of the full planned
timetable. This improved timetable has been designed around the fleet currently available from Hitachi, allowing
EMR to restore priority services while making changes to some other services to improve overall reliability and
resilience.
This represents a significant step towards restoring services for customers and will reduce planned weekly
cancellations across the Intercity route by approximately 45% compared with the temporary timetable introduced
in July. The enhanced timetable will also increase capacity on our Intercity services from 81% to 84% of the full
planned timetable.

The timetable includes the reinstatement of several services that were previously withdrawn, including:
• Sheffield: Five weekday services and three weekend services will return that were previously fully
cancelled.
• Nottingham: Three weekday services and one weekend service will return that were previously fully
cancelled.
• Lincoln: The 0609 service will return.
Further details, including a station-by-station breakdown of the timetable changes, are enclosed with this letter.
We know the temporary timetable has been challenging for our customers, communities and stakeholders and we
are grateful for the patience and understanding shown while these issues have been addressed. While there is still
work to do with Hitachi Rail to further improve fleet reliability, the timetable enhancements from 31 August
represent an important milestone in restoring the reliable service our customers rightly expect.
In the meantime, EMR customers can use their existing tickets at no extra cost to travel on CrossCountry,
Northern, TransPennine Express, LNER, Avanti and West Midlands Railway/London Northwestern Railway services,
if their booked service has been cancelled. Customers may also travel on up to two earlier, or two later, on EMR
services and customers who choose not to travel because their booked service has been cancelled, are entitled to
a full refund.
Further information about the revised timetable, including customer travel advice, is available on our website:
eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/reducedtimetable.
Should you have any questions, or wish to discuss these changes further, please contact your dedicated
Stakeholder Engagement Managers, Laura Etheridge (laura.etheridge@eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk) and George
Selby (george.selby@eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk), who will be available to assist you.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Grabham
Interim Managing Director
East Midlands Railway
Enc. Detailed station-by-station timetable changes from 31 August

 

[D365]

Letter from Neil Grabham to Stakeholders just received. Apologies for formatting. Full letter attached below

This is being discussed in the EMR Intercity timetable thread.

 

[ainsworth74]

This is being discussed in the EMR Intercity timetable thread.

Yes please continue the discussion there about this letter

 

[londonmidland]

810010 seems to have some to a halt at Harpenden for a prolonged period. Services diverting around.

 

[Amos390]

810010 seems to have some to a halt at Harpenden for a prolonged period. Services diverting around.

It’s going again only 90L at the moment, presuming that’s going at Derby then, not sure why though.

810011 also looks like it’ll get taken off 1D88 at East Mids P’way, again reason unknown, but a VSTP 5Z88 is in place to go to Etches from Parkway: https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train/?c= 03731&d=13/08/2026

 

[LowLevel]

810010 was a fault on the train requiring a reset etc.

I would hazard a guess 1D88's amendment may be to keep it away from Nottingham station which between it and Eastcroft depot has been a disaster zone of Regional units failed with air conditioning faults all afternoon.

 

[Taunton]

As I understand it, the main source of noise for HVAC is the ducting. If smaller than optimal for the airflow it generates a lot of the ambient noise notable on the 810.

Ductwork noise is well understood within the industry, with steps to minimise corners and changes of cross-section, use of circular rather than rectangular ducting, etc.

Fan noise can be notably reduced using fans which do not have the blades equally spaced, but some slight offsets which reduce harmonic interaction. The rotating balance is restored by varying the hub thickness to compensate. General Motors locos in the USA were pioneers in this research quite some time ago.

 

[Killingworth]

810010 was a fault on the train requiring a reset etc.

I would hazard a guess 1D88's amendment may be to keep it away from Nottingham station which between it and Eastcroft depot has been a disaster zone of Regional units failed with air conditioning faults all afternoon.

It seems EMR abandoned the Sheffield - Liverpool section of the Norwich-Liverpool route today, 12th, and tomorrow, 13th. Topic for a new thread? Too hot.

 

[Dave61]

It seems EMR abandoned the Sheffield - Liverpool section of the Norwich-Liverpool route today, 12th, and tomorrow, 13th. Topic for a new thread? Too hot.

Being discussed here:

Heat Related Disruption - 13 Aug 2026

Looks like Chiltern are (unsurprisingly) going to be running a reduced service on Thursday and are stating 'essential travel only.' Details from the National Rail site Description The Met Office are forecasting that temperatures will be above average for the time of year this week, with...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Amos390]

810022 with a late-night door failure at St P, running back to Etches under 5Z85 after arriving around 20-25 mins late on 1B94. I do wonder this late if an issue that would normally be toughed through during the daytime service is immediately sorted out at night, like with this if the failure happened at midday would they just try and keep it going a bit longer

 

[londonmidland]

810022 with a late-night door failure at St P, running back to Etches under 5Z85 after arriving around 20-25 mins late on 1B94. I do wonder this late if an issue that would normally be toughed through during the daytime service is immediately sorted out at night, like with this if the failure happened at midday would they just try and keep it going a bit longer

It’s also the last direct service of the day from St Pancras to Sheffield.

Needless to say, unit availability between the 222s and 810s has been absolutely dire.

The 360s have completely fell over too.

 

[Mugby]

It’s also the last direct service of the day from St Pancras to Sheffield.

Absolutely appalling, That just leaves the 2304 to Derby which arrives there about 2am.

There must be a fair few people wanting Chesterfield and Sheffield, what will happen to them?