GWR Class 800

[westv]

I read today that the first VTEC (or LNER as it will be then) Azuma journey with passengers will be from Hull to London in December. Is that true?

 

[jimm]

I should think it is a pretty safe bet that the trains will not be burdened with the name Azuma now that Virgin's marketing department will not be involved.

 

[Agent_Squash]

I should think it is a pretty safe bet that the trains will not be burdened with the name Azuma now that Virgin's marketing department will not be involved.

It's already been confirmed Azuma is staying.

 

[Sirgerbil]

I read today that the first VTEC (or LNER as it will be then) Azuma journey with passengers will be from Hull to London in December. Is that true?

Considering the only route the first 2 800’s will be signing in December is Leeds to London and London to York...I doubt it

 

[D365]

Considering the only route the first 2 800’s will be signing in December is Leeds to London and London to York...I doubt it

I haven’t got a link but it was stated that the first 800 diagram would be replacing the EMT hire-in.

 

[DanNCL]

Considering the only route the first 2 800’s will be signing in December is Leeds to London and London to York...I doubt it

No, the first LNER 800 is supposed to be replacing the HST that uses power cars hired in from EMT (NL65?), which would suggest it'll be covering the Hull route as well as Leeds.

 

[385001]

From Richard Clinnick in Rail.

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/first-azuma-services

Azuma Intercity Express Programme trains will be introduced on the London King’s Cross-Leeds route from December.

The same duty also includes a return visit to Hull, and will release the unrefurbished former East Midlands Trains High Speed Train currently used by VTEC (NL65), according to sources.

Speaking exclusively to RAIL, Virgin Trains East Coast Managing Director David Horne said the plan is for nine-car Class 800/1 bi-modes to be introduced into service first, followed by the five-car Class 801/1 electric multiple units, then the Class 800/2 bi-mode units, and finally the nine-car Class 801/2 fleet.

Sources say the first trains will be the 0700 Hull-London King’s Cross, 1105 King’s Cross-Leeds and 1345 return, and the 1718 King’s Cross-Hull, followed by the 2028 Hull-Doncaster.

After that diagram, the next three Azumas will replace three Class 91/Mk 4 duties from late December 2018/early January 2019, according to RAIL sources.

Introducing the Azuma fleet requires the completion of a power supply upgrade in the Doncaster area. This is fully costed and funding is in place.

 

[eaet]

No, the first LNER 800 is supposed to be replacing the HST that uses power cars hired in from EMT (NL65?), which would suggest it'll be covering the Hull route as well as Leeds.

It's reported here

 

[westv]

It's reported here

So the "maiden voyage" will be the 07:00 from Hull then. Presumably it'll shave a few minutes of the journey time.

 

[Charlie M.]

As Clarence Yard says in post 7582 from Thursday, the introduction of the nine-car IETs has been delayed by a week until the 18th.

Didn’t see, my apologies.

 

[Charlie M.]

Does anyone know whether the nine cars will go into Weekends anytime soon?

 

[Typhoon_93]

Late last week another new Kasido built set started arriving at Doncaster Carr IEP Depot, it is white so will be a east coast set.. does anyone know which set it is..?
Thanks Gareth

 

[jimm]

It's already been confirmed Azuma is staying.

And your source for this conformation is...?

Twitter posts by members of Virgin's management team - as posted in another thread - do not count as proof, so far as Im concerned

 

[159220]

Edited to reply to:

1. The 800 fleet ordered by the DfT under the IEP programme.

2. The main 802 order was planned with one role in mind, serving Devon and Cornwall - with the odd side excursion in the peaks to the Cotswolds and Malverns.

3. The extra 802s were to give a bit more flexibility to the overall 800/802 fleet on GWR.

4. Other than different software settings for diesel engine management and traction purposes the trains are near as makes no difference identical in every way.

5. The Class 802 order includes nine-coach sets which will most likely to be the trains of choice for the Pullman restaurant services to the West Country,

If I may just be pendantic:

1. Technically, the DfT awarded Agility Trains the IEP, in turn, Agility Trains West and Agility Trains East order the respective fleets of 800/801 class Trains from Hitachi.

2. It has been planned from day one that the 802/0 fleet would form peak Cotswolds/Malverns services with a 800/0 to offer 10 car services. Additionally, one of the 802/1 (9 car) is to be “let” to Agility Trains West daily to cover the former 801/0 diagrams. As these were converted to 800/3, one more unit was needed. The 802/1 saves the embarrassment of the DfT.

3. Yes, but also to make sure all Padd-Penzance 802 services would be 802/1 (9 car).

4. The rheostatic braking radiator grills are enlarged on the 802. The 802 is a true “diesel train with electric capabilities” rather than the 800 being a “electric train with diesel capabilities. Note the AdBlue tank is larger on the 802. (All though 800/0 & /3 shall have theirs increased in engine pack maintancenace swaps)

5. The first Pullman onboard the class 802, shall use a 802/0 (5 car). Point being Pullman services on diagrams out of Penzance shall be 9 car and out of Plymouth 10 car

 

[D1009]

If I may just be pendantic:

1. Technically, the DfT awarded Agility Trains the IEP, in turn, Agility Trains West and Agility Trains East order the respective fleets of 800/801 class Trains from Hitachi.

2. It has been planned from day one that the 802/0 fleet would form peak Cotswolds/Malverns services with a 800/0 to offer 10 car services. Additionally, one of the 802/1 (9 car) is to be “let” to Agility Trains West daily to cover the former 801/0 diagrams. As these were converted to 800/3, one more unit was needed. The 802/1 saves the embarrassment of the DfT.

3. Yes, but also to make sure all Padd-Penzance 802 services would be 802/1 (9 car).

4. The rheostatic braking radiator grills are enlarged on the 802. The 802 is a true “diesel train with electric capabilities” rather than the 800 being a “electric train with diesel capabilities. Note the AdBlue tank is larger on the 802. (All though 800/0 & /3 shall have theirs increased in engine pack maintancenace swaps)

5. The first Pullman onboard the class 802, shall use a 802/0 (5 car). Point being Pullman services on diagrams out of Penzance shall be 9 car and out of Plymouth 10 car

Are there any differences between the kitchens on the 800s and 802s 5 car or 9 car? If not you can presumably have Pullman dining on any train you want. Also does the introduction of the 802s justify a separate thread, or do forum members see it as an extension of the IEP programme, as for operational purposes the sets would appear to be interchangeable.

 

[JN114]

Are there any differences between the kitchens on the 800s and 802s 5 car or 9 car?

At present all kitchens are planned to be identical.

 

[jimm]

If I may just be pendantic:

1. Technically, the DfT awarded Agility Trains the IEP, in turn, Agility Trains West and Agility Trains East order the respective fleets of 800/801 class Trains from Hitachi.

2. It has been planned from day one that the 802/0 fleet would form peak Cotswolds/Malverns services with a 800/0 to offer 10 car services. Additionally, one of the 802/1 (9 car) is to be “let” to Agility Trains West daily to cover the former 801/0 diagrams. As these were converted to 800/3, one more unit was needed. The 802/1 saves the embarrassment of the DfT.

3. Yes, but also to make sure all Padd-Penzance 802 services would be 802/1 (9 car).

4. The rheostatic braking radiator grills are enlarged on the 802. The 802 is a true “diesel train with electric capabilities” rather than the 800 being a “electric train with diesel capabilities. Note the AdBlue tank is larger on the 802. (All though 800/0 & /3 shall have theirs increased in engine pack maintancenace swaps)

5. The first Pullman onboard the class 802, shall use a 802/0 (5 car). Point being Pullman services on diagrams out of Penzance shall be 9 car and out of Plymouth 10 car

I assume you mean pedantic.

I hope that the 802s will have rheostatic braking grilles - a grill would be a bit of a fire risk.

Rather than the 802 being a diesel train with electric capabilities, it might better be described as "the bi-mode train GWR would have ordered in the first place if it had been left to get on with the job, instead of being landed with the DfT's version".

 

[Pete_uk]

So, will a 800 make it to Cheltenham today? Hope to get a video if it is on time, which is asking a bit these days

 

[Goldfish62]

And your source for this conformation is...?

Twitter posts by members of Virgin's management team - as posted in another thread - do not count as proof, so far as Im concerned

So a tweet by a member of the management team of the current franchisee is not sufficient proof for this forum?? This is not a court of law.

 

[ainsworth74]

So, will a 800 make it to Cheltenham today? Hope to get a video if it is on time, which is asking a bit these days

It's been mentioned, a couple of times now ( ), but the 9-car working to Cheltenham has been delayed by a week to 18th June

 

[Charlie M.]

Don’t worry I’m just as excited as you are Pete .

Also mentioned on the other thread but was speaking to staff at Gloucester who have said that the Class 800s in 10car formation can only use more Platform 4 due to a reason not specified to the staff on station.

 

[59CosG95]

802009 & (presumably) 802010 are on their way, seen here passing through München Heimeranplatz.
(Credit to the original photographer)

 

[DenmarkRail]

I should think it is a pretty safe bet that the trains will not be burdened with the name Azuma now that Virgin's marketing department will not be involved.

Shall I annoy you even more? I heard a GWR guard say “Welcome onboard of this GWR Azuma Service to...”

Lol.

 

[Typhoon_93]

802201 has been unloaded at Southampton today and will probably be heading north to Doncaster to join the other recent arrival 800107 (3 cars last week and the rest this week), gonna be interesting at Doncaster shortly when they have 3 sets with the same last 3 digits 800201, 801201 and 802201.

 

[D1009]

802201 has been unloaded at Southampton today and will probably be heading north to Doncaster to join the other recent arrival 800107 (3 cars last week and the rest this week), gonna be interesting at Doncaster shortly when they have 3 sets with the same last 3 digits 800201, 801201 and 802201.

It has probably been mentioned up thread, but can you remind me to which TOC 802201 is destined?

 

[kje7812]

It has probably been mentioned up thread, but can you remind me to which TOC 802201 is destined?

According to Wikipedia, TPE.

 

[redjet123]

Can I ask if anyone is watching waverleyjohn's vids on youtube? I know he loves making the vids from Hitachi's site in Aycliffe but he feels too old for forums
I'm sure he'd welcome any follows:
https://www.youtube.com/user/WAVERLEYJOHN/videos

[moderator - no offense, fine to remove this post if impolite or I'm breaching some rule or other.]

 

[IanXC]

[moderator - no offense, fine to remove this post if impolite or I'm breaching some rule or other.]

Not in the slightest. Very interesting channel I'm sure many members will be interested to peruse.

 

[47802]

I assume you mean pedantic.

I hope that the 802s will have rheostatic braking grilles - a grill would be a bit of a fire risk.

Rather than the 802 being a diesel train with electric capabilities, it might better be described as "the bi-mode train GWR would have ordered in the first place if it had been left to get on with the job, instead of being landed with the DfT's version".

On the other hand the DFT version would probably be perfectly good enough had Network Rail managed to electrify on time and on budget

 

[jimm]

That would depend on whether you thought the engine management and acceleration settings the DfT specified for the 800s were the optimum ones, whatever the extent of electrification. GWR don't appear to think so.