Nine-car ‘800/3’ is GWR’s latest IET accepted into traffic

Great Western Railway started the week on October 22 with 57 Intercity Express Trains accepted for traffic. The latest in service was nine-car 800316.

It becomes the 13th of 21 Class 800/3s in use with GWR. There are currently 34 Class 800/0s, 13 Class 800/3s, nine Class 802/0s and one Class 802/1 in traffic.

GWR has 93 trains on order (57 Class 800s and 36 Class 802s), of which all the trains are constructed, but in various stages of testing and delivery.

At Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe facility are 800301/312/320/321, which are due to be sent to Doncaster for testing and commissioning.

At the Yorkshire depot are 800311/317/318. Of these, 800311 features a catering vehicle from the original pre-series set 800001, while 800312 has a vehicle from 800002.

At North Pole for final commissioning and acceptance is 800317, while 800319 is at Eastleigh for minor modifications. Two five-car sets, 800001/002, are yet to enter traffic as they are being used for various tests regarding upgrades.

For the Class 802 fleet, 802019/020 arrived at North Pole from Pistoia, Italy, on October 17. The five-car bi-modes join 802012017 at the west London site, with 802020-022 the final two five-cars to be delivered, after which ninecar 802102-114 will be sent to the UK.

GWR plans to have all its IETs in service by early next year.