Class 810 for East Midlands Railway Construction/Introduction Updates

[Fincra5]

Some interior images from Today’s Railways Twitter page who attended the press launch today showing the FC, Standard Class, Cab and exterior of the 810 in Etches Park.

https://x.com/todaysrailways/status/1991532419049275889?s=46

Trying to work out if the 810 is ETCS Ready (with the DMI having some ETCS functions showing...)

 

[YorksLad12]

Some interior images from Today’s Railways Twitter page who attended the press launch today showing the FC, Standard Class, Cab and exterior of the 810 in Etches Park.

https://x.com/todaysrailways/status/1991532419049275889?s=46

Despite the shorter carriage length the seats seem to match up the windows the way they do in the 800/801 sets (LNER’s, anyway).

 

[Nym]

Some interior images from Today’s Railways Twitter page who attended the press launch today showing the FC, Standard Class, Cab and exterior of the 810 in Etches Park.

https://x.com/todaysrailways/status/1991532419049275889?s=46

The cab looks much better laid out than the 80x fleets. Someone seems to have considered ergonomics.

Remains to be seen on the quality of the digital screens and whatnot for their software and layout.

 

[fgwrich]

Despite the shorter carriage length the seats seem to match up the windows the way they do in the 800/801 sets (LNER’s, anyway).

Indeed, as much as I dislike the IET fleets (this largely being down the poor specification of them - DfT I’m looking at you for that!), these are shaping up to potentially be the best designed Hitachi Rail UK product so far. Though it shows what can be achieved when the operator has the choice and freedom to do these things than a product designed by committee and cost.

 

[duffield]

Despite the shorter carriage length the seats seem to match up the windows the way they do in the 800/801 sets (LNER’s, anyway).

Yes, that's a definite plus, I just hate having a face full of pillar which is common on the 222s in 1st (and standard, I assume).

 

[NCT]

I'm pretty sure the seat/window alignment in Standard Class looks compromised, but the seemingly seem pillars make it look not too bad. My favourite 80x standard class interior remains the Avanti one.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

Yes, that's a definite plus, I just hate having a face full of pillar which is common on the 222s in 1st (and standard, I assume).

It's a bit odd in 222s, some carriages seem to have seats uniformly offset from perfect alignment.

 

[WesternLancer]

Some interior images from Today’s Railways Twitter page who attended the press launch today showing the FC, Standard Class, Cab and exterior of the 810 in Etches Park.

https://x.com/todaysrailways/status/1991532419049275889?s=46

Is that the total of table seats in a standard class carriage screen in that image?

 

[bunnahabhain]

Is that the total of table seats in a standard class carriage screen in that image?

Each standard class vehicle has a different seating layout some with more tables some with fewer.

 

[sh24]

Are the first seats the same as Avanti? If so, a bad move even if the window alignment is better. They are less comfortable than the original IET seats, which themselves are very average.

 

[Mzzzs]

Are the first seats the same as Avanti? If so, a bad move even if the window alignment is better. They are less comfortable than the original IET seats, which themselves are very average.

Think Avanti use leans in first then yes but EMR have spent money on some redesigns to make them more comfortable.

 

[WesternLancer]

Each standard class vehicle has a different seating layout some with more tables some with fewer.

Thanks for explaining.

 

[zwk500]

Trying to work out if the 810 is ETCS Ready (with the DMI having some ETCS functions showing...)

According to this MR Article https://www.modernrailways.com/article/etcs-emr-bi-modes they were originally ordered with provision only, but later on the order was changed and they are now fitted with ETCS.

 

[QSK19]

Think Avanti use leans in first then yes but EMR have spent money on some redesigns to make them more comfortable.

I’m just thinking on hindsight whether having customised LEANs was the right thing to do. I’ve sat in a standard, unmodified LEAN and they’re comfortable.

It seems that there has been penny-pinching in some areas of the specification (eg no traffic light system for seat reservations); but there are two ways of looking at it - either it was wise to plough so much of the budget into the main thing that will give passengers a comfortable journey (ie seating), or they blew too much of the budget on seating and neglected some of the basics of train travel mod cons these days.

 

[Fincra5]

According to this MR Article https://www.modernrailways.com/article/etcs-emr-bi-modes they were originally ordered with provision only, but later on the order was changed and they are now fitted with ETCS.

Smart Decision... who knows the future schemes! All new builds should come with it as standard! Thanks.

 

[GoneSouth]

It seems that there has been penny-pinching in some areas of the specification (eg no traffic light system for seat reservations)

If true that’s a very bad decision. They are the best reservation systems so far in the uk and surely help with accessibility. The text might still be small, but that big green or red light means you don’t even have to worry about reading the text, just sit and enjoy your available seat or move on if red. Amber is the only one that needs any scrutiny.

If we’re left with only small text it means squinting at all of them is the only way to find a seat.

Rubbish idea (but it’s not alone in a tidal wave of rubbish ideas).

 

[ChrisC]

If true that’s a very bad decision. They are the best reservation systems so far in the uk and surely help with accessibility. The text might still be small, but that big green or red light means you don’t even have to worry about reading the text, just sit and enjoy your available seat or move on if red. Amber is the only one that needs any scrutiny.

If we’re left with only small text it means squinting at all of them is the only way to find a seat.

Rubbish idea (but it’s not alone in a tidal wave of rubbish ideas).

I wouldn’t mind so much if the text was a bit brighter. I find it a real pain when I am getting on a busy train and I end up blocking the aisle whilst searching for my reading glasses before I can find a seat. Even paper reservation cards on the back of seats were much easier to quickly read without requiring my reading glasses.

 

[QSK19]

I wouldn’t mind so much if the text was a bit brighter. I find it a real pain when I am getting on a busy train and I end up blocking the aisle whilst searching for my reading glasses before I can find a seat. Even paper reservation cards on the back of seats were much easier to quickly read without requiring my reading glasses.

The good old HST system! Really miss it.

 

[LowLevel]

Apparently the reservation screens themselves will go red, yellow or green once activated, though they might not be in use to start with as the diagrams have had reservations turned off at the moment for the transition.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I've heard loads of conflicting information as to the expected entry into service date, some people have been saying November (this month) but EMR has been saying December.
Does anyone know the actual plans?

If in doubt, go with the first Monday after the timetable change (14.12.2025) and, if it's earlier in reality, it's a pleasant surprise.

 

[D365]

According to this MR Article https://www.modernrailways.com/article/etcs-emr-bi-modes they were originally ordered with provision only, but later on the order was changed and they are now fitted with ETCS.

Thanks for confirming. The DMIs (Driver Machine Interfaces - aka ETCS displays) from the EMR press release photos do appear as if the onboard ETCS was operating in ’Level NTC’.

 

[Trainman40083]

I was on Derby station circa 14.15. Only two trains in the station were 810009 and 810010.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Brief item (3-4 mins?) on the BBC local TV news just now about their introduction next month. Expect it’ll be on the iplayer soon. Nothing we didn’t already know I don’t think.

 

[ChrisC]

Brief item (3-4 mins?) on the BBC local TV news just now about their introduction next month. Expect it’ll be on the iplayer soon. Nothing we didn’t already know I don’t think.

There was a similar length item on ITV Yorkshire Calendar News last night.

 

[GoneSouth]

There was a similar length item on ITV Yorkshire Calendar News last night.

Heck, Calendar lives! I remember the good old days of Richard Whitley and Geoff Drewett. Not old enough to remember Austin Mitchell though!

Anybody of note presenting these days?

 

[duffield]

According to this MR Article https://www.modernrailways.com/article/etcs-emr-bi-modes they were originally ordered with provision only, but later on the order was changed and they are now fitted with ETCS.

It would have been short-sighted not to fit it, since surely the very busy southern end of the MML is a prime candidate for ETCS in the next decade or so?

 

[Amos390]

There appears to be a new 810 being tested out of Newton Aycliffe currently (5Q08-5Q13 running between York at Darlington), apparently the unit on test it 810012 according to a sighting RailRecord (Link here: https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train/?c=K47294&d=2025-11-21 ). As well as this, GBRf seem to be done with the 810s as there is a schedule for an 810 to return back to Newton Aycliffe under it's own power (Shedule: https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train.php/?c=K47882&d=2025-11-24 ) It goes via Peterborough and up the ECML under electric.

 

[Nym]

It would have been short-sighted not to fit it, since surely the very busy southern end of the MML is a prime candidate for ETCS in the next decade or so?

If only ETCS actually provided a capacity benefit on a mixed traffic railway with Network Rail's constraints on it. That there pesky freight.

 

[800001]

There appears to be a new 810 being tested out of Newton Aycliffe currently (5Q08-5Q13 running between York at Darlington), apparently the unit on test it 810012 according to a sighting RailRecord (Link here: https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train/?c=K47294&d=2025-11-21 ). As well as this, GBRf seem to be done with the 810s as there is a schedule for an 810 to return back to Newton Aycliffe under it's own power (Shedule: https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train.php/?c=K47882&d=2025-11-24 ) It goes via Peterborough and up the ECML under electric.

It can still be Gbrf doing the move under own power and yes 810012 is next planned unit for emr

 

[zwk500]

It would have been short-sighted not to fit it, since surely the very busy southern end of the MML is a prime candidate for ETCS in the next decade or so?

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Digital-Long-Term-Deployment-Plan.pdf

According to NR's PDf it is a candidate. Not that the DfT would every do anything short-sighted...

Dates on the PDF, please correct if I've misread the map:
- St Pancras - Cricklewood: 2033
- Hendon - Luton: 2026
- Luton - Bedford: 2029
- Bedford - Manton/Market Harbourough: CP11
- Market Harborough - Loughborough: CP9
- Loughbourough - Trent Jns area: CP10
- Derby: CP12
- Derby/Toton - Chesterfield: CP9
- Chesterfield - Sheffield: 2027

Worth pointing out that these timescales have obviously slipped by at least 3-5 years

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Nov 2025 ==

If only ETCS actually provided a capacity benefit on a mixed traffic railway with Network Rail's constraints on it. That there pesky freight.

ETCS L2 only would provide a capacity benefit on a number of issues with freight. If it's L2 Overlay and the freight isn't ETCS fitted then it'd be very measly benefits, if anything.

(the benefits include, but are not limited to, removal of approach control for junctions, allowing additional End of Authority locations that don't need to stick to strict spacing rules for braking distance, ability to remove overlaps from junctions, much cheaper bi-di signalling functionality.) but this is getting away from the 810s.

 

[duffield]

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Digital-Long-Term-Deployment-Plan.pdf

According to NR's PDf it is a candidate. Not that the DfT would every do anything short-sighted...

Thanks, I thought it was on the radar (as an aside, that's a terrible map NR have produced, all those very similar colours - about as clear as mud!).