GWR Class 800

[jimm]

The standard class seats are alright, being lucky enough to sit in one at Newton Aycliffe a few weeks back. The charging ports are pretty much the same as a MK3, but there is a tad more legroom, about the same as the priority access seats in the GWR MK3's. There is more room overhead, and I'm 6 ft exactly and can walk fine through the carriages. As for 1st Class, it looks very similar to standard (sadly) and could really do with better seats, especially since the price difference between standard and 1st is huge, and I wouldn't say it's worth it for what I looks like.

The reasons the interiors of the first batch of 800s look the way they do is well documented - civil servants know best...

Virgin have at least been allowed to go for a splash of colour, if the artist's impressions are anything to go by, but the black and red first class seats look rather tacky to my mind.

Fingers crossed GWR has commissioned the same people who did the current HST first class to make a rather better job of the 802 interiors, though almost anything would be an improvement than DfT's shades of grey...

 

[The Ham]

... almost anything would be an improvement than DfT's 50 shades of grey...

Changed that, so as to give everyone nightmares!!!

Although that would explain a lot of transport policy....

 

[ainsworth74]

Changed that, so as to give everyone nightmares!!!

Although that would explain a lot of transport policy....

Listen! This is supposed to be a famiyl friendly forum so this sort of thing has no place here! How are we supposed to sleep soundly tonight after that!!

 

[Julia]

800003/4 on 5X80 North Pole - Doncaster today, noted hammering up the ECML just behind a 91+Mk4. Is this a regular working, and if so - training, rotating the sets around, ...?

 

[leomartin125]

800003/4 on 5X80 North Pole - Doncaster today, noted hammering up the ECML just behind a 91+Mk4. Is this a regular working, and if so - training, rotating the sets around, ...?

It is fairly regular. Gets sets positioned so they can perform the testing required of them where needed. Obviously 800004 and 800003 are wanted by Hitachi up in Doncaster. Another Class 800, a new one with no decals, operated a move between North Pole and Stoke Gifford today.

 

[800001]

It is fairly regular. Gets sets positioned so they can perform the testing required of them where needed. Obviously 800004 and 800003 are wanted by Hitachi up in Doncaster. Another Class 800, a new one with no decals, operated a move between North Pole and Stoke Gifford today.

800003 and 800004 for company, passed York at 0946 on 5X40 Doncaster - Newcastle - Peterborough - Doncaster test run

 

[Mag_seven]

When do Virgin East coast intend to run their first passenger workings with the class 800? I say that because I don't believe one has reached Edinburgh yet! Have any East Coast drivers been trained yet?

 

[Mintona]

No, and they won't be for some time yet.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

800003 and 800004 for company, passed York at 0946 on 5X40 Doncaster - Newcastle - Peterborough - Doncaster test run

Pan up or pan down?
I still have no feel for the amount of IEP running in electric mode.
None at all on GW of course.

 

[swt_passenger]

Pan up or pan down?
I still have no feel for the amount of IEP running in electric mode.
None at all on GW of course.

Have you seen this recent video, of a diesel to AC power changeover at Maidenhead? https://youtu.be/QpI6c2gO1Dk

 

[absolutelymilk]

Have you seen this recent video, of a diesel to AC power changeover at Maidenhead? https://youtu.be/QpI6c2gO1Dk

Great video! Wonderful to see it in practice

 

[swt_passenger]

Great video! Wonderful to see it in practice

20 odd seconds stop to start?

 

[Bornin1980s]

It's certainly a screamer! Just what makes that noise? I thought electric trains were supposed to be quieter.

Still, glad to see some of the GWR wires working, but why can't any electrified system take these trains at the moment, even on the ECML? Do these trains really draw that much more power than any other train? I mean, Hitachi made the 395 run on third rail. Have they lost their Japanese perfection?

 

[swt_passenger]

Still, glad to see some of the GWR wires working, but why can't any electrified system take these trains at the moment, even on the ECML? Do these trains really draw that much more power than any other train?

It's nothing like as simple as power draw being the problem. There can be a number of other issues such as mutual electrical interference between trains and other lineside equipment. This has been discussed earlier in this thread.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Have you seen this recent video, of a diesel to AC power changeover at Maidenhead? https://youtu.be/QpI6c2gO1Dk

Well that's good to see.
We really need confirmation that it is OK under OHLE (other than on test).
I imagine we are in a phase where only certain units have the necessary mods for Series 1, pending roll-out (of software?) to the whole fleet.

 

[Typhoon_93]

Pan up or pan down?
I still have no feel for the amount of IEP running in electric mode.
None at all on GW of course.

Pan up on one only

 

[swt_passenger]

Pan up on one only

The 5+5 in the above video has two pans up?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The 5+5 in the above video has two pans up?

I think he meant today's ECML working.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think he meant today's ECML working.

Ah OK.

 

[leomartin125]

When do Virgin East coast intend to run their first passenger workings with the class 800? I say that because I don't believe one has reached Edinburgh yet! Have any East Coast drivers been trained yet?

GWR drivers haven't even reached the cab on the Class 800's! And they expect theirs to enter service in Autumn, which sounds ambitious. Would it be correct to say the first IET's to enter service with GWR will be 800003 and 800004? 800001 and 800002 seem to be crammed full of testing equipment, and a lot of seats seemed to have been ripped out...

Whilst on business in Newton Aycliffe, I saw a Class 800 (800014) on test on their test track, changing power between diesel and electric, and worked seemless at low speeds. Interesting video at Maidenhead though, at least shows it can work. Can these IET's change power whilst moving? If so, what's the max speed they can do this?

 

[CosherB]

GWR drivers haven't even reached the cab on the Class 800's! And they expect theirs to enter service in Autumn, which sounds ambitious. Would it be correct to say the first IET's to enter service with GWR will be 800003 and 800004? 800001 and 800002 seem to be crammed full of testing equipment, and a lot of seats seemed to have been ripped out...

Whilst on business in Newton Aycliffe, I saw a Class 800 (800014) on test on their test track, changing power between diesel and electric, and worked seemless at low speeds. Interesting video at Maidenhead though, at least shows it can work. Can these IET's change power whilst moving? If so, what's the max speed they can do this?

"Strategically removed" would perhaps be a more accurate description.

 

[IanXC]

"Strategically removed" would perhaps be a more accurate description.

If they were installed in the first place!

 

[jimm]

GWR drivers haven't even reached the cab on the Class 800's! And they expect theirs to enter service in Autumn, which sounds ambitious. Would it be correct to say the first IET's to enter service with GWR will be 800003 and 800004? 800001 and 800002 seem to be crammed full of testing equipment, and a lot of seats seemed to have been ripped out...

Whilst on business in Newton Aycliffe, I saw a Class 800 (800014) on test on their test track, changing power between diesel and electric, and worked seemless at low speeds. Interesting video at Maidenhead though, at least shows it can work. Can these IET's change power whilst moving? If so, what's the max speed they can do this?

800001 and 800002 have always been full of test equipment. No seats were installed, so none have been 'ripped out'. It won't be the first time that the first-built of a new type of train enter passenger service after ones that followed them down the production line.

Re changing power modes on the move, this has been mentioned over and over in this thread, but what the heck, let's do it again...

The IEP technical specification https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/82840/tts-redacted.pdf
requires that the changeover between diesel and electric and back can be done on the move, at speed, all the way up to 125mph.

Point 3.1.2 on Page 16 of the specification

A Bi-mode IEP Unit must be able to switch between any of the modes identified in TS1576 whilst at any speed from stationary up to the maximum speed of an IEP Train identified in TS261.

I think it has been mentioned back up this thread somewhere already, but Nigel Harris, writing in the current issue of Rail, describes being on an IEP at the Old Dalby test track in 2015 when the switch from electric to diesel was made when the train was running at 100mph. The article can be read at this link

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/rail-uk/20170719/281479276468725

 

[SpacePhoenix]

GWR drivers haven't even reached the cab on the Class 800's! And they expect theirs to enter service in Autumn, which sounds ambitious.

Will it be just links who sign HSTs that will sign the 800s?

 

[Mintona]

It isn't accurate to say that GWR drivers haven't reached the cab yet.

 

[JN114]

It isn't accurate to say that GWR drivers haven't reached the cab yet.

Some Managers and Instructors have even started Instructor Training....

 

[swt_passenger]

Can these IET's change power whilst moving? If so, what's the max speed they can do this?

The specific requirement to changeover on the move must have been confirmed dozens of times during your time on this forum. I see jimm has quoted the spec already.

 

[cactustwirly]

Will it be just links who sign HSTs that will sign the 800s?

And some of the LTV drivers for the Oxford fasts, Cotswold line and Bedwyn services

 

[YorkshireBear]

For anyone interested in electric running.

I saw two GWR IEP units go through York just now. Did not catch numbers as was caught by surprise, and then focussed on which mode it was in. I can confirm both units had the pan up.

 

[800001]

For anyone interested in electric running.

I saw two GWR IEP units go through York just now. Did not catch numbers as was caught by surprise, and then focussed on which mode it was in. I can confirm both units had the pan up.

The numbers are 800003 and 800004. Led to believe they left Newcastle in Diesel mode. But can vouch that they both were in Electric mode with both units Pan up, when they passed York. Wonder wether they changed on the move or when stationary?