British Rail Class 801

The British Rail Class 801 AT300 is a type of electric multiple unit (EMU) built by Hitachi for London North Eastern Railway. They are closely related to the bi-mode units of classes 800 and 802, with all three classes being in the Hitachi A-train family. The trains have been built since 2017 at Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe factory and have been used on services on the East Coast Main Line since 16 September 2019.

British Rail Class 801 AT300
801102 at London King's Cross in 2019
The standard class interior of a Class 801
In service16 September 2019 – present
ManufacturerHitachi
Built at
Family nameA-Train
Replaced
Constructed2017 - 2020
Number built30 x 9-car sets
12 x 5-car sets
Formation5-car: DPTS-MS-MS-MC-DPTF
9-car: DPTS-MS-MS-TS-MS-TS-MC-MF-DPTF[1]
Capacity5 car set: 254 standard, 48 first class
9 car set: 510 standard, 101 first class
Operator(s)London North Eastern Railway
Line(s) servedEast Coast Main Line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length26 m (85 ft 3 5⁄8 in)
Maximum speed
  • 125 mph (200 km/h)
  • (140 mph, 225 km/h Using ETCS in cab signalling)
Weight41 tonnes per coach
Prime mover(s)MTU 12V 1600 R80L
Engine type21-litre V12 turbo-Diesel[1]
Cylinder count12
Power output560 kW (750 hp) per engine[1]
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead lines
Current collection methodPantograph
Safety system(s)AWS, TPWS, ETCS
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

As part of its production, the train is part of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) and is in the Hitachi AT300 product family.[2] Just like on their Class 800 trains, LNER have branded the units as Azuma.

Background and design
Main article: Intercity Express Programme

As part of the UK Government's Intercity Express Programme, the Class 801 units were intended as replacements for the InterCity 125 and InterCity 225 sets which were formerly the main trains used for services on the Great Western Main Line (GWML) and the East Coast Main Line (ECML).[3] The Class 801 units were designed as electric multiple units, with one diesel engine fitted to each set for emergency use. In the 5-car sets, the single diesel engine is located in car 4. In the 9-car sets, the diesel engine is located in car 8. However, owing to delays in the electrification of the GWML, in June 2016, the Government announced that the 21 nine-car units (Class 801/0) planned for use by Great Western Railway would instead be converted to bi-mode operation,[4] and they were later reclassified as Class 800/3.[5] As a consequence, Class 801 units will be used exclusively on the ECML.

Operation

The first two 5-car 801/1 sets entered service on 16 September 2019 with LNER, doubled up to make a 10-car train. This was announced by LNER as the first 10-car Azuma to enter service.[6] 801109 and 801110 were the units, having started and finished their diagram at Leeds.[7]

As more 801/1 sets have entered service gradually, the 9-car 801/2 sets have also been able to start being introduced alongside them too. The first two entered service on 18 November 2019, with 801205 working an Edinburgh service and 801207 working a York service both from Kings Cross.

Fleet details
Class Operator No. Built Year Built Cars per Set Unit nos.
Class 801/1 Azuma[8] London North Eastern Railway 12 2017-2020 5 801 101–112
Class 801/2 Azuma[8] 30 9 801 201–230
LNER Class 801/1 Azuma
LNER Class 801/2 Azuma

References
  1. Rogers, Andrew; Robinson, Chris; Agatsuma, Koji; Iwasaki, Mitsuo; Inarida, Satoru; Yamamoto, Takahisa; Konishi, Kenta; Mochida, Toshihiko (2014). "Development of Class 800/801 High-speed Rolling Stock for UK Intercity Express Programme" (PDF). Hitachi Review. 63 (10): 646.
  2. Switchboard 0300 330 3000, Media enquiries 020 7944 3021 Out of hours media enquiries 020 7944 4292. "Government gives green light for more state-of-the-art intercity trains". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  3. DfT Confirms Second Intercity Trains, Railnews, 18 July 2013
  4. Hitachi converts GWR ‘801s’ to bi-mode operation, Rail Magazine, 8 June 2016
  5. "Great Western bi-mode '801s' to be reclassified as Class '800/3s'". Rail. Peterborough: Bauer Media. 20 July 2016. p. 33.
  6. Railway, London North Eastern (16 September 2019). "Our first 10-car #Azuma has entered service today! 06:40 #Leeds to #KingsCross 10:06 #KingsCross to #NewarkNorthGate 11:56 #NewarkNorthGate to #KingsCross 14:33 #KingsCross to #NewarkNorthGate 17:14 #Leeds to #KingsCross 20:03 #KingsCross to #Leeds pic.twitter.com/mJdMuPZ0Gf". @lner. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  7. September 16 launch for Class 801 Azumas on London-Leeds route RAIL; 1 August 2019
  8. "EMU Formations". AbRail. AbRail. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2015.


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