Class 800 IET Profile and Models

Class 800 IET

800307 near Pontyclun, South Wales in July 2020. ©Hugh Llewelyn

The Class 800 is a type of bi-modal multiple unit used in the United Kingdom, based on the Hitachi A-train design. The first units entered service with GWR on the Great Western Main Line (GWML) in October 2017, and entered service with LNER on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) in May 2019. These trains were assembled at the Hitachi Newton Aycliffe facility, alongside the related Class 801 & 802 units, from bodyshells shipped from the Kasado plant in Japan. The Class 800 is part of the UK Government's "Intercity Express Programme" which intends to partially replace Intercity 125 and Intercity 225 train sets in mainline usage. The Class 800s, being bi-modal, have more operational flexibility as they are capable of working on lines which have not been electrified. 

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Unit

Bi-Modal Multiple Unit
(25kV 50Hz AC Overhead & 3 to 5 x 21L V12 Turbo-Diesel Engines)

Builder

Hitachi Kasado (Pre-Production)
Hitachi Newton Aycliffe (Production)

Build Dates

2014 to 2018

Total Built

34 x 9-car sets
59 x 5-car sets

Power Output

750hp per engine

Top Speed

125mph (in service)
140mph (capable)

Passenger Capacity

302 to 326 (5-car set)
611 to 650 (9-car set)

Operated By

Great Western Railway
London North Eastern Railway

Main Duties

Express & Regional Passenger

In Service Until

Present

Surviving Examples

All in Service