LNER Azuma (Class 800/801)

[G Broughton]

I saw 5Q83 800101 through Spalding yesterday afternoon but see it ran as 5X82 from Eastleigh to North Pole on Monday.
Could someone explain the difference between the ‘X’ and ‘Q’ head codes, please ?

 

[jymiee]

I saw 5Q83 800101 through Spalding yesterday afternoon but see it ran as 5X82 from Eastleigh to North Pole on Monday.
Could someone explain the difference between the ‘X’ and ‘Q’ head codes, please ?

I should know this but don’t. However, I’ll have a guess anyways. X being Hitachi’s movements and Q being LNER’s?

 

[ainsworth74]

I should know this but don’t. However, I’ll have a guess anyways. X being Hitachi’s movements and Q being LNER’s?

I believe the 'X' headcode services have to run via the booked route exactly (i.e. down to the booked platform through a station or the booked line in an area with multiple lines) due to clearance issues. Whereas 'Q' just means that it's a train on test. I'd suggest a movement to Eastleigh being on an 'X' headcode would be because there will probably only be one cleared route for them to get there so you don't want a signaller sending them a slightly different way and ending up scuffing the side of the unit and knocking some coping stones off a platform face!

 

[G Broughton]

Thank you so much - really appreciated.

 

[3973EXL]

I saw 5Q83 800101 through Spalding yesterday afternoon but see it ran as 5X82 from Eastleigh to North Pole on Monday.
Could someone explain the difference between the ‘X’ and ‘Q’ head codes, please ?

X - train running as an Exceptional Load. Traincrew are issued a form, 3973EXL which details route and any restrictions. Signallers also need a copy in advance so they can comply with anything concerning them.
Restrictions maybe for one reason, or a combination. Could be route, speed, gauge, type of wagon load for example.
Trains may have run as an X in the past until a route/region is checked, cleared, and the train can now operate with no special restrictions.

Q - used for Test trains, transit moves, units to/from works for example. There are no special restrictions with these.

 

[swt_passenger]

I believe the 'X' headcode services have to run via the booked route exactly (i.e. down to the booked platform through a station or the booked line in an area with multiple lines) due to clearance issues. Whereas 'Q' just means that it's a train on test. I'd suggest a movement to Eastleigh being on an 'X' headcode would be because there will probably only be one cleared route for them to get there so you don't want a signaller sending them a slightly different way and ending up scuffing the side of the unit and knocking some coping stones off a platform face!

Thank you for that, so my question from early March (post #789) finally seems to be answered. I had asked why there were two separate head codes for an apparently through service, and no-one came up with that explanation. In fact some replies didn’t seem to understand the question...

 

[cosmo]

X - train running as an Exceptional Load. Traincrew are issued a form, 3973EXL which details route and any restrictions. Signallers also need a copy in advance so they can comply with anything concerning them.
Restrictions maybe for one reason, or a combination. Could be route, speed, gauge, type of wagon load for example.
Trains may have run as an X in the past until a route/region is checked, cleared, and the train can now operate with no special restrictions.

Q - used for Test trains, transit moves, units to/from works for example. There are no special restrictions with these.

In addition I believe X trains can't be automatically routed when Automatic Route Setting is being used, it has to be done manually by the signaller.

 

[theblackwatch]

LNER announced today that first Azuma runs from/to Scotland in service on August 1st:
05.40 Edinburgh-King's Cross "Flying Scotsman"
17.30 King's Cross-Edinburgh

 

[connormill]

There is an LNER Azuma currently sitting in the sidings at Aberdeen.

Wasn't able to catch any numbers as I was driving past but good to see they are testing this far north

Does anyone know if that ran on Diesel or Electric between York and Edinburgh - thought there was an EMF problem north of York

 

[Jay S]

LNER announced today that first Azuma runs from/to Scotland in service on August 1st:
05.40 Edinburgh-King's Cross "Flying Scotsman"
17.30 King's Cross-Edinburgh

Do you have a link to where this was announced?

 

[chuff chuff]

There is an LNER Azuma currently sitting in the sidings at Aberdeen.

Wasn't able to catch any numbers as I was driving past but good to see they are testing this far north

Does anyone know if that ran on Diesel or Electric between York and Edinburgh - thought there was an EMF problem north of York

Been sitting there all week.

 

[theblackwatch]

Do you have a link to where this was announced?

No I haven't. It isn't up on the site yet as far as I can see.

 

[InOban]

It's on the LNER Azuma page listing the start date for various routes.

 

[385001]

LNER announced today that first Azuma runs from/to Scotland in service on August 1st:
05.40 Edinburgh-King's Cross "Flying Scotsman"
17.30 King's Cross-Edinburgh

Do you have a link to where this was announced?

No I haven't. It isn't up on the site yet as far as I can see.

It's on the LNER Azuma page listing the start date for various routes.

Useful links here. Official dates from LNER on PDFs detailing Azuma times.

https://www.lner.co.uk/the-east-coast-experience/azuma-trains/azuma-schedule/#Tab_13897

Monday to Friday - https://www.lner.co.uk/globalassets/_page-structure/azuma-content/monday-to-friday-trains.pdf
Saturday - https://www.lner.co.uk/globalassets/_page-structure/azuma-content/saturday-trains.pdf
Sunday - https://www.lner.co.uk/globalassets/_page-structure/azuma-content/sunday-trains.pdf

 

[385001]

And now a Tweet from LNER.

https://twitter.com/LNER/status/1134443012111654912

From 1 August our brand new #Azuma trains will be launching between #London and #Scotland. Even more stops for our customers in #Edinburgh #Newcastle #York #Durham #Darlington to join in the fun! #ThisIsOurLNER bit.ly/2VZs8o0

 

[PomWombat]

Nothing for Harrogate in those PDFs. Will they not upgrade the 1tpd until they start the 1tp2h timetable?

 

[theblackwatch]

Useful links here. Official dates from LNER on PDFs detailing Azuma times.

https://www.lner.co.uk/the-east-coast-experience/azuma-trains/azuma-schedule/#Tab_13897

Monday to Friday - https://www.lner.co.uk/globalassets/_page-structure/azuma-content/monday-to-friday-trains.pdf
Saturday - https://www.lner.co.uk/globalassets/_page-structure/azuma-content/saturday-trains.pdf
Sunday - https://www.lner.co.uk/globalassets/_page-structure/azuma-content/sunday-trains.pdf

Excellent, thanks for providing those links. Very good of LNER to do this to enable people to sample (or, in the case of some, avoid!) the new stock. They certainly seem to be going about it the right way when it comes to publicising things.

 

[ainsworth74]

Excellent, thanks for providing those links. Very good of LNER to do this to enable people to sample (or, in the case of some, avoid!) the new stock. They certainly seem to be going about it the right way when it comes to publicising things.

Perhaps it just because the ECML is my nearest mainline but this whole introduction feels as if it's being delivered much more effectively and with more thought and planning than the introduction on the GWML. At least to me...

 

[43096]

Excellent, thanks for providing those links. Very good of LNER to do this to enable people to sample (or, in the case of some, avoid!) the new stock. They certainly seem to be going about it the right way when it comes to publicising things.

And also tweeted by their MD: https://mobile.twitter.com/DavidHorne/status/1134434038121488384

 

[hexagon789]

Useful links here. Official dates from LNER on PDFs detailing Azuma times.

https://www.lner.co.uk/the-east-coast-experience/azuma-trains/azuma-schedule/#Tab_13897

Monday to Friday - https://www.lner.co.uk/globalassets/_page-structure/azuma-content/monday-to-friday-trains.pdf
Saturday - https://www.lner.co.uk/globalassets/_page-structure/azuma-content/saturday-trains.pdf
Sunday - https://www.lner.co.uk/globalassets/_page-structure/azuma-content/sunday-trains.pdf

Good now I know which ones to avoid in favour of 125s/225s while they are still about!

Nothing against the Azumas just they are here for the long term the other stuff isn't.

 

[ainsworth74]

Gentle reminder that there is a dedicated diagram thread to discuss the detail of which services are diagrammed Azumas.

 

[westv]

17:18 to Hull leaving 27 mins late this evening. Let's see how much time it can make up or whether my delay repay is safe!

 

[johnr57]

LNER announced today that first Azuma runs from/to Scotland in service on August 1st:
05.40 Edinburgh-King's Cross "Flying Scotsman"
17.30 King's Cross-Edinburgh

Currently £69.30 Advance First, no booked seats yet! (and its an Azuma seat plan)

 

[hexagon789]

LNER announced today that first Azuma runs from/to Scotland in service on August 1st:
05.40 Edinburgh-King's Cross "Flying Scotsman"
17.30 King's Cross-Edinburgh

Just realised, this is only part of a diagram? Is it as with the Hull service introduction they start with part of the diagram and then take over in full.

 

[7522]

Just booked on the first Azuma passenger service from Newcastle 01/08 07:05 direct to London, still plenty of seats available.

 

[800001]

Just realised, this is only part of a diagram? Is it as with the Hull service introduction they start with part of the diagram and then take over in full.

Does Kgx-Yrk return in between

 

[800001]

There is an LNER Azuma currently sitting in the sidings at Aberdeen.

Wasn't able to catch any numbers as I was driving past but good to see they are testing this far north

Does anyone know if that ran on Diesel or Electric between York and Edinburgh - thought there was an EMF problem north of York

800105, worked on electric to Darlington then diesel north to Berwick. should then of changed to electric to Edinburgh and back to diesel.

 

[hexagon789]

Does Kgx-Yrk return in between

Did seem a bit strange that it should only do one Edinburgh-London and return.

 

[MotCO]

I may have missed it, but how were the Health & Safety issues of the cabling between carriages addressed to ensure that they were not used as ladders for the uninitiated and criminally foolhardy?

 

[swt_passenger]

I may have missed it, but how were the Health & Safety issues of the cabling between carriages addressed to ensure that they were not used as ladders for the uninitiated and criminally foolhardy?

It may not have been done yet, they apparently agreed some sort of target date but I think from previous discussions it wasn’t actually required to be rolled out before entry into service...