The future of high speed intercity services on key routes including the Great Western Main Line and the East Coast Main Line are in the hands of the Class 800, part of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP). These high speed multiple units are bi-mode electro-diesels (the Class 801 is a pure electric multiple unit version). There is also the Class 802 which is a bi-mode with a higher diesel power output and larger fuel tanks.
GWR 800 030 at London Paddington
Information
Number built:
536 (80 5- and 9-car sets)
Built:
2015-18
Builder:
Hitachi Kasado & Newton Aycliffe
Motor:
Hitachi traction system (25kV AC OHLE)
MTU 12V 1600 R80L diesel
Final construction of the Class 800 is taking place at a Hitachi factory in Newton Aycliffe though much of the build including the body shells are being made at a Hitachi factory in Kasado Japan. The prototypes were wholly built in Japan.
The Class 800 are operated by Great Western Railway (800/0 and 800/3) and London North Eastern Railway (800/1 and 800/2) as five or nine car sets. GWR introduced them into service in Autumn 2017 and LNER (formerly Virgin Trains East Coast who gave them the name Azuma) introduced them in 2019.
GWR's 800s were originally to have been the pure-EMU Class 801 but because of delays in electrifying the GWML the order was switched to the bi-mode Class 800 which has been designed to be able to switch from diesel to electric (and vice versa) at line speed. However they can only achieve their maximum speed (of up to two hundred and twenty five kp/h depending on signalling) in electric mode.
