Class 805s enter traffic with Avanti West Coast
HITACHI Class 805 bi-modes entered service with Avanti West Coast on the West Coast Main Line on June 2.
No. 805009 was the first to carry passengers, forming the 1A16 10.16 Chester-London Euston, which actually started from Crewe. At the same time, Nos. 805001/004 formed the 1D36 10.36 Crewe-Holyhead.
AWC has 13 five-car Class 805 bi-modes and 10 seven-car Class 807 electric multiple units on order. As this issue of Rail Express went to press, Nos. 805001-005/008-012 had all carried passengers, while Nos. 805006/013 were at Newton Aycliffe. Only No. 807002 has so far been released for testing.
An AWC spokesperson told Rail Express that the plan initially is for six Class 805s to be in traffic per day, operating 14 services. This increases to 18 on Saturdays and drops to 13 on Sundays. They are intended to replace Class 221 Super Voyagers (see panel).
AWC has so far accepted Nos. 805001-005/008-012 with No. 805013 expected to join the fleet soon. Nos. 805006/007 are being used for main line testing and will join the fleet this summer.
AWC has branded the trains Evero. A spokesperson explained: “The name was created as part of a collaborative process with our people and stakeholders, with a Trackathon in March 2022 where suggestions were made.
“It was important to us that the name should stand for something bigger. A title that gives the world a glimpse of what we aim to achieve, which goes beyond getting people from A to B. The EV in Evero nods to the fact these trains are more environmentally friendly.”
Each ‘805’ has 299 seats, offering a 16% increase compared with the Class 221s they will replace. Once they enter traffic, the ‘807s’ will serve the West Midlands and Liverpool.
Alstom maintains the Hitachi trains at its Oxley depot.
Each train features one plug and two USB sockets at each pair of seats, wireless charging on tables, personal dimmable lights on airline seat backs in Standard class, and accessible toilets.
There are two wheelchair spaces on a Class 805 and the same number on an ‘807’. The trains also feature an onboard shop.
The trains were ordered in 2019 and funded by Rock Rail. They have been assembled at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe facility, although their entry into traffic has been delayed due to various issues including training.
CLASS 221 SUPER VOYAGERS
The new Hitachi fleet is being used to replace the Class 221 Super Voyager fleet. As this issue of Rail Express went to press, No. 221115 was the first to have been returned to their leasing company Beacon Rail, on March 26, followed by Nos. 221114/116 on April 8, and Nos. 221113/117 on June 6.
The first 12 sets are destined for CrossCountry, with No. 221116 the first to enter traffic with its new operator.
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson told Rail Express on June 3, that Nos. 221111/107 would be returned to Beacon Rail on June 13, Nos. 221110/112 on June 20 and No. 221118 on June 27.
The spokesperson confirmed that eight sets would be retained by AWC until December, with six required for service and two for maintenance. Those being retained will be Nos. 221101-106/108/109.
Once they are sent back to Beacon Rail, they are expected to be snapped up by open access operators, with Hull Trains and Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway (WSMR) already expressing interest in using Class 22x units for services that could start next year. These eight will be joined by Nos. 221142/143, which are leased to Grand Central until December.
Siemens says it will build battery trains in Goole for UK market
SIEMENS has said it will build battery trains at its new factory in Goole if it is successful in bidding for new train contracts.
The manufacturer highlighted that the trains could replace diesel fleets at Chiltern Railways, Great Western Railway, Northern, ScotRail, TransPennine Express and Transport for Wales. They could also operate on East-West Rail within the next decade.
Currently Chiltern, Northern, ScotRail and TPE are looking for new fleets (see separate story), with GWR evaluating what is possible (RE337).
Siemens claims that by using battery trains then only small sections of railway would need to be electrified with fast-charging key points on routes supplied from the domestic grid using Siemens’ Rail Charging Converters (RCC). The manufacturer claims this could save £3.5 billion and 12 million tonnes in CO2 emissions from Britain’s railways over 35 y ears.
The new trains would be powered overhead line electrification on routes already electrified, switching to battery power away from the wires. Siemens said that
