Hitachi investigates Devon sea wall problems for ‘800s’

HITACHI has denied claims that meetings have taken place with the Department for Transport about problems encountered by Great Western Railway Class 800s on the Devon sea wall.

On January 31, two trains operated by Class 800s (800018/026 and 800318) were hit by waves during poor weather. The ‘800/0s’ were running as the 1204 Penzance-London Paddington, which was cancelled at Exeter St Davids. The ‘800/3’ was working the 1454 Paignton-London Paddington. Unlike the Class 802s used by GWR on the same route, the ‘800s’ were specified and ordered by Government and are not fitted with roof-mounted protective equipment.

In a House of Lords debate on February 6, Baroness Sugg claimed: “The new Intercity Express Trains on GWR were also affected by weather along the Devon coast last week, so we are working closely with Hitachi to fund a solution.”

However, on February 7, Hitachi spokesman Sam Fisk told RAIL that there have been no discussions regarding the incident.

He added that since October more than 500 trains operated by IETs have successfully run along the sea wall section. GWR spokesman Dan Panes confirmed these statistics the same day.

Fisk explained: “GWR has been operating four IET services a day through Dawlish and on to Paignton since August.

“GWR has also been operating IETs through to Penzance since October, and there have therefore been well over 500 services, on weekdays alone, through Dawlish without incident - including through storms, high tides and high winds.”

He told RAIL that Hitachi is investigating what happened with the ‘800s’. It is understood that safety equipment on the trains cut power to the traction motors, causing them to come to a stand.

Inspectors investigated the problems and got the trains re-started. They moved to Hitachi’s