Class 805 appears briefly

THE first of the new Class 805 fleet for Avanti West Coast broke cover on July 12, at Hitachi Merchant Park. The unit was brought outside, fuelled, then placed back inside the test shed to resume static testing. No. 805001 is the first of a fleet of 13 five-car bimodes which will replace ‘Voyagers’ on the North Wales coast route (Chester/ Holyhead). The pioneer unit is expected to start dynamic testing in September, before moving on to the network under its own power before the end of the year. Entry to service of the first unit is still anticipated in spring 2023.

James Garthwaite No. 805001 at Hitachi Merchant Park during its brief foray outside on July 12.