First IEP electric multiple unit begins main line tests
MAIN line testing of the first Class 801 has begun in the UK, after five-car 801101 ran from Doncaster Carr to Darlington and back late on January 29.
It is the first Hitachi Intercity Express Programme electric multiple unit (EMU) to travel on Network Rail metals, and one of three ‘801s’ in the UK. Fellow fivecar 801102 is also at Doncaster, while nine-car 801201 is at Newton Aycliffe. The latter has undergone various tests within the factory, as well as trips on the short test track at the site.
Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) plans to introduce the first Azumas into traffic in November ( RAIL 845). It is understood they will run to Leeds and York.
A RAIL source suggests that subject to final plans being confirmed by VTEC, one set will enter traffic in December, with a further three sets entering service during January 2019, again serving Yorkshire.
The North East receives its first Azuma trains in February 2019, when a further three trains enter traffic (taking the number to seven).
The first Scottish trains operated by Azumas will begin in March, when a further three sets are in traffic (taking the number to ten).
VTEC Managing Director David Horne had told RAIL last year ( RAIL 837) that there were five Azumas in the UK, and that four would be used from December 2018. They will be progressively introduced on routes throughout next year, and will serve Scotland by May 2020.
Unlike the Class 800s entering traffic with Great Western Railway, the Virgin Trains East Coast Class 801s are EMUs fitted with ‘donkey engines’ that can supply ‘hotel power’ for systems in the event of a failure.
The Department for Transport has ordered 42 Class 801s for VTEC, with 12 five-car (801101801112) and 30 nine-car sets (801201-801230) to replace the existing High Speed Train and Class 91/Mk 4 sets.
A further 13 nine-car Class 800/1 (800101-800113) and ten five-car Class 800/2 (800201-800210) bi-modes are also on order, with 800101 in the UK since 2016 and used for testing across the UK.
So far, all the Virgin Trains East Coast Class 801s have been built in Kasado (Japan), but the vast majority of the fleet will be built at Newton Aycliffe.
Production will turn to VTEC’s Azuma fleet upon completion of the GWR Class 800 order - the ‘800/0’ assembly is all but finished, while a vast number of the 21 ‘800/3s’ are also at Newton Aycliffe.
GB Railfreight operated the test train on NR metals. It is contracted to test all IEP EMUs.