Great Western bi-mode ‘801s’ to be reclassified as Class ‘800/3s’

The 21 nine-car Class 801 electric multiple units (EMUs) that are now to be built as bi-mode trains will be re-classified as Class 800/3s.

Hitachi Rail Europe is building the trains for Great Western Railway. They had been ordered initially as EMUs fitted with auxiliary diesel power, but delays with the Great Western Electrification Programme (GWEP) forced Rail Minister Claire Perry to announce in a Commons Written Reply to Bath MP Ben Howlett (Conservative) on May 26 that the order had been changed ( RAIL 802).

Perry said that following the receipt of a formal proposal from Agility Trains West Ltd, the Secretary of State for Transport had approved the conversion of ‘801s’ to bi-mode operation.

She said this means passengers in the South West and Wales will benefit as soon as possible from “brand new trains which will deliver more capacity and more comfort. The first 36 trains will be bi-mode as planned.”

GWR will now take delivery of 36 five-car Class 800/0s and 21 nine-car Class 800/3s. Additionally it also has seven nine-car and 22 five-car Class 802s ordered, and these have higher-powered engines and greater fuel capacity. The variation on the contract authorises the purchase of additional engines, larger fuel tanks and bodyshell modifications.

The Class 800/3s were always intended for delivery after the bi-mode Class 800/0s, and no impact on the delivery schedule is anticipated.

Great Western Railway expects Class 800/0s to enter traffic from next July. Four will enter service at a time, running as two ten-car trains, between London Paddington and Bristol ( RAIL 803).