Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[QSK19]

I just think it would have been much more beneficial if they could have just got Leicester station wired before shelving it. The 360’s could have taken some of the strain from the intercity services at Leicester and used the quieter P4. Just a thought and I’m no expert in the feasibility but short sightedness wins again it seems.

And I presume an 8-car 360 and an Ivanhoe line 158/170 could fit on it in a 4A/4B sort of set up?

As you say, short sightedness! Interesting few months ahead nevertheless!

 

[Wyrleybart]

Aren't they still 21-litre?

Not sure but online guff suggests 735Kw rather than 700Kw on 800s, but then they were adjusted after entry into service IIRC.

 

[tfw756rider]

Not sure but online guff suggests 735Kw rather than 700Kw on 800s, but then they were adjusted after entry into service IIRC.

Ah, so you meant power output rather than capacity

 

[Trainman40083]

I just think it would have been much more beneficial if they could have just got Leicester station wired before shelving it. The 360’s could have taken some of the strain from the intercity services at Leicester and used the quieter P4. Just a thought and I’m no expert in the feasibility but short sightedness wins again it seems.

I did think that major works were planned for Wigston junction (grade separation), maybe even a new platform at Leicester, which might change the OHLE plans in the short term

 

[liamf656]

I did think that major works were planned for Wigston junction (grade separation), maybe even a new platform at Leicester, which might change the OHLE plans in the short term

I can't see grade separation happening in any of our lifetimes

 

[ArkUTD]

I saw an 810 today going and coming back from Manton direction when I was at Corby, don’t know how far down it went though. Shame about creating being stopped.

It was set 008, driver training. Nice to see it pass down the line!

 

[Trainman40083]

I can't see grade separation happening in any of our lifetimes

Me neither

 

[STINT47]

When the HSTs went I still qualified for a young person's railcard. By the time their replacement 810s have been fully introduced I may be able to get the old persons version

 

[THC]

Shambles is very much the correct word IMO. Some sort of proper review needs to be done once this sorry saga is over.

As for MPs speaking up, I got a useless response from Jeevun Sandher (Loughborough) regarding MML electrification being “paused” - simply that he “had been advocating for” it. He clearly hadn’t, rather toeing his party’s line without reservation in a “yes sir, certainly sir, no problem sir” fashion - aspirations to become a minister no doubt. At least Neil O’Brien, being a Tory, can kick up a fuss.

Sandher has most definitely been advocating within Government circles for completion of the MML electrification programme. His chief of staff is passionately pro-rail, shares your frustrations with the stop-start nature of progress, and has briefed his boss extensively on the subject. However, as you correctly assert, Sandher does have aspirations for higher office, and so plays the political game accordingly. Don't be surprised therefore if a restart of some sort materialises late in this Parliamentary cycle.

THC

 

[bunnahabhain]

First passenger service unit to run in December apparently. No more accuracy afraid and yes - that’s December 2025!

Unless it's changed in the past 2 weeks the intention is November.

 

[Aspen90]

Unless it's changed in the past 2 weeks the intention is November.

Oh really, well hopefully it is - I heard December this Friday just gone.

 

[swt_passenger]

I did think that major works were planned for Wigston junction (grade separation), maybe even a new platform at Leicester, which might change the OHLE plans in the short term

Was thought about but later confirmed as not happening in the medium term, I think this was by @Bald Rick.

 

[hwl]

and differernt capacity MTU engines.

The displacement of the engine is still the same, it has just been slightly tuned up so the max rpm and max fuel flow rates are both slightly higher.
The emission regulations changed in the interim so effectively a new exhaust system and some changes to ECU programming too.

 

[Roast Veg]

Don't be surprised therefore if a restart of some sort materialises late in this Parliamentary cycle.

THC

We can but hope.

 

[jfowkes]

On the 200th anniversary of the passenger railway, let us pray that maybe they'll be ready in time for the 300th.

 

[tfw756rider]

The displacement of the engine is still the same, it has just been slightly tuned up so the max rpm and max fuel flow rates are both slightly higher.
The emission regulations changed in the interim so effectively a new exhaust system and some changes to ECU programming too.

The emissions regulations changed even since the 805s, or just since the 802s?

The 810s certainly have a new exhaust system, with the driving vehicles having twin pipes under metal "grilles".

 

[Mollman]

Quality control staff just returned from a long summer holiday to find the workforce were on holiday too and some 70's British Leyland folk stepped in to keep the job going!!...

Presumably using that spare roll of asbestos carpet they found in a cupboard in Workington

 

[apinnard]

The other being a small company ROLLING STOCK INVESTMENT NO1 LIMITED

Smoke and mirrors?

When I worked for a large ROSCO we had so many Ltd companies within the business and our own employed team of 4 legally qualified people plus our finance team easily numbered 20. Most of the companies were registered in London and a few in ROI. Some fleets even had their own group of dedicated Ltd companies that essentially transferred money from one to the other and the next by way of management fees. In my eyes it is was just one giant tax fiddle.

 

[AndrewJM70]

If they introduce 5 sets in early December and then 1 set per fortnight then we might see the whole fleet in service by the end of 2026. Or is that wishful thinking?

 

[800001]

If they introduce 5 sets in early December and then 1 set per fortnight then we might see the whole fleet in service by the end of 2026. Or is that wishful thinking?

Production has stopped while they sort out the issues they have with the units.

I'd say 5 by December is wishful thinking, they do not have any unit accepted which is passenger service ready.

 

[LowLevel]

If they introduce 5 sets in early December and then 1 set per fortnight then we might see the whole fleet in service by the end of 2026. Or is that wishful thinking?

Very much wishful thinking, unfortunately! Things will start to progress from December hopefully I don't think there will be 5 sets and I am not sure everything will be in service by 2027.

 

[800001]

From the Hitachi open day today, unit 029 in various stages of production, and unit 030 in the paint shop.

030 highest number seen.

 

[AndrewJM70]

Well that’s not far off 33

 

[800001]

Well that’s not far off 33

Crazy that nearly all built and yet not one has carried a passenger.

Apparently in the new year they are renumbering them to 701s.

For anyone who attended the Hitachi Open day. The following units were in the test shed and yard:-

001/005/007 were in yard
006/011/015 at Darlington end of test house (006 apparently leaving tomorrow/this week)
003/012/014/016 at other end of test house

 

[david.stannard]

Crazy that nearly all built and yet not one has carried a passenger.

Apparently in the new year they are renumbering them to 701s.

For anyone who attended the Hitachi Open day. The following units were in the test shed and yard:-

001/005/007 were in yard
006/011/015 at Darlington end of test house (006 apparently leaving tomorrow/this week)
003/012/014/016 at other end of test house

Thanks for the listing. Had not noticed 03 returning to Newton Aycliffe on RTT. Presumably there for some fault rectification issue and is why there has been no further mainline testing of 810s working in multiple from Old Dalby since the first run of 03 and 04 together on 8th September.

 

[800001]

Thanks for the listing. Had not noticed 03 returning to Newton Aycliffe on RTT. Presumably there for some fault rectification issue and is why there has been no further mainline testing of 810s working in multiple from Old Dalby since the first run of 03 and 04 together on 8th September.

Tbf I thought 003 had returned to old Dalby on 23/07/25.

Also heard that 003 went 'pop' on one of its workings and not seen 3 or 4 out since.

 

[Trainman40083]

Crazy that nearly all built and yet not one has carried a passenger.

Apparently in the new year they are renumbering them to 701s.

For anyone who attended the Hitachi Open day. The following units were in the test shed and yard:-

001/005/007 were in yard
006/011/015 at Darlington end of test house (006 apparently leaving tomorrow/this week)
003/012/014/016 at other end of test house

Why would they renumber them to 701? That is the South West Trains units

 

[InTheEastMids]

Also heard that 003 went 'pop' on one of its workings and not seen 3 or 4 out since.

I guess this explains the lack of any apparent test trains from Old Dalby for a few weeks now.
The paths are in for a 5Q61/62 trip to St Pancras, but always appear to be cancelled.

 

[tram21]

Why would they renumber them to 701? That is the South West Trains units

It was a joke

 

[Trainman40083]

It was a joke

Ah but which class has taken longest to enter service?