Testing begins on VTEC-bound Class 801/2 Azuma

TESTING has begun at Newton Aycliffe of the first nine-car electric Intercity Express Programme Class 801/2 for Virgin Trains East Coast.

However, VTEC is unable to confirm exactly when the train will enter traffic, simply telling RAIL that it will be “from 2018”.

The train (801201) was built in Kasado in Japan, and shipped to the UK. It has been tested on Hitachi Rail Europe’s test track within its Newton Aycliffe assembly facility and on the short track next to the Bishop Auckland branch. Like all IEPs used by VTEC, it will be branded as an Azuma.

It is the first of 30 nine-car electric multiple units ordered for VTEC (801201-801230), although it is not the first Class 801 EMU in the UK, with 801101/102 delivered to HRE’s Doncaster depot and undergoing commissioning. However, the latter are five-car IEPs.

801201 is actually the second nine-car VTEC IEP to undergo testing, with bi-mode 800101 already used for more than a year in the UK. It was used to launch the trains in March 2016, but has more recently been undergoing testing on the Great Western Main Line, where IEPs will be introduced first by Great Western Railway.

VTEC plans to introduce its Azuma fleet into traffic from next year, to enable the withdrawal of its High Speed Train fleet. No routes have been confirmed, but it is expected that London King’s Cross-York and Leeds will be the first route they will be used on,

enabling VTEC to start returning its 15-strong HST fleet back to their owners.

Thirteen nine-car Class 800/1 bi-modes, five five-car Class 800/2 bi-modes and 12 five-car Class 801/1 EMUs are on order to replace the HSTs, while the 30 nine-car Class 801/2s are designed to replace the Class 91/Mk 4 sets