British Rail Class 802

British Rail Class 802
The standard-class interior of a GWR Class 802 unit
In service2018–present
ManufacturerHitachi Rail
Built at
Family nameA-train
Replaced
Constructed2017–2020
Number built
  • 60
  • (22 × 802/0, 14 × 802/1, 19 × 802/2, 5 × 802/3)
Formation
  • 5 cars per 802/0 and 802/3 unit:
  • DPTS-MS-MS-MC-DPTF
  • 9 cars per 802/1 unit:
  • DPTS-MS-MS-TS-MS-TS-MS-MF-DPTF
  • 5 cars per 802/2 unit:
  • DPTS-MS-MS-MS-DPTF
Fleet numbers
  • 802001–802022
  • 802101–802114
  • 802201–802219
  • 802301–802305
Capacity
  • 802/0: 326 seats (36 first class, 290 standard)
  • 802/1: 647 seats (71 first class, 576 standard)
  • 802/2: 342 seats (24 first class, 318 standard)
  • 802/3: 327 seats (43 first class, 284 standard)
Owners
Operators
Depots
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length
  • Driving vehicles:
    25.7 m (84 ft 4 in)
  • Intermediate vehicles
    26 m (85 ft 4 in)
DoorsSingle-leaf pocket sliding (2 per side per car)
Maximum speed125 mph (200 km/h)
Weight
  • 5-car units: 243 tonnes (239 long tons; 268 short tons)
  • 9-car units: 438 tonnes (431 long tons; 483 short tons)
Prime mover(s)MTU 12V 1600 R80L (3 per 5-car unit, 5 per 9-car unit)
Engine type4-stroke V12 turbo-diesel with SCR
Displacement21 L (1,284 cu in) per engine
Power output700 kW (940 hp) per engine
Acceleration1 m/s2 (2.2 mph/s)
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemDellner 10
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 802 is a type of high-speed bi-mode multiple-unit passenger train designed and produced by the Japanese manufacturer Hitachi Rail. It has been operated by Great Western Railway, TransPennine Express, and Hull Trains; each of these train operating companies has given its own units a unique brand: Great Western Railway's units are branded Intercity Express Trains (IETs), TransPennine Express units are branded Nova 1s and Hull Trains' units are branded Paragons.

The Class 802 is based on the design of the Hitachi A-train, being a member of the Hitachi AT300 product family. They are near-identical to the preceding Class 800, the primary difference between the two being the diesel engines originally set to a higher power output and enlarged fuel tanks for their intended use on lengthier unelectrified stretches of railway. The introduction of Class 802s by Great Western Railway facilitated the replacement of ageing Intercity 125 high-speed trains, and enabled a reduction of journey times.

Various enhancement and modification schemes have been both implemented and proposed. Both Great Western Railway and TransPennine Express have agreed to participate in trials of battery train technology that, dependent on results, may see fleetwide adoption. In the event of large-scale electrification being funded and implemented during the train's service life, it is practical for some of the engines to be removed from Class 802 sets if rendered surplus, which would reduce their overall weight by 15% and thus raise operational efficiency. Furthermore, while the Class 802s presently have an initial maximum speed of 125 mph, if infrastructure upgrades were to permit greater speeds at a future date, they have the capability of being modified for operating at 140 mph.

History

Being in the same family, the Class 802 is similar to the Class 800

During mid-2015, the train operator Great Western Railway (GWR) announced that it had arranged to procure 173 new rail vehicles from Hitachi Rail, along with options for an additional 150. At the time, GWR was in the early stages of introducing a new fleet of intercity trains as part of the Department for Transport's Intercity Express Programme.

This project involved the procurement of both wholly electric units (Class 801), and "bi-mode" trains (Class 800), powered by electric traction motors capable of running from overhead electric wires or on-board diesel generators. These trains were intended to replace the existing High Speed Trains following the electrification of the Great Western Main Line. However, electrification will only go as far as Cardiff Central, while the route beyond Cardiff continued to require diesel traction (hence the need to procure trains capable of operating without overhead wires).

The purchase of 173 additional vehicles was with the intention that these new bi-mode trains, similar to the Class 800s, would be used on services into Devon and Cornwall. These trains would consist of 22 five-car and 7 nine-car units. The option for a further 150 vehicles would be formed into another 30 five-car units.

Initially, because Hitachi's Manufacturing Facility at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham was at capacity, the intention was to build the trains at the Kasado factory in Kudamatsu in Japan. However, following Hitachi's purchase of the Italian train manufacturer AnsaldoBreda, construction was moved to Hitachi's newly-acquired Pistoia plant, from which the first unit was reportedly completed in February 2018.

The trains were scheduled to enter service with GWR from 2018. One of the stated aims of the procurement was the reduction of journey times, such as between London and Exeter by up to five minutes, London and Plymouth by up to six minutes, and London and Penzance by up to 14 minutes.

Operations

The Class 802s are broadly the same as the Class 800 bi-mode trains produced for the Intercity Express Programme, and have been operated in a similar manner; they are run as electric trains wherever possible, and are equipped with diesel generator units identical to those on the Class 800. However, they are furnished with engines that have a higher operating power – 700 kW (940 hp) per engine as opposed to GWR's 800s' original 560 kW (750 hp) (since increased), along with the addition of larger fuel tanks; these enable the Class 802s to better handle the steeper gradients and extended running in diesel mode that has been anticipated on the lengthy unelectrified stretches on which they are typically operated.

Great Western Railway

Great Western Railway Class 802 passes through Shell Cove at Dawlish.
Cab of a GWR Class 802

During 2017, GWR took delivery of 22 five-car and 14 nine-car sets. This was an increase from the 29 sets that had been initially ordered in 2015. In August 2017, main-line testing of the Class 802 commenced in Somerset. They were due to be introduced on 16 July 2018. On 17 August 2018, a demonstration run for invited guests from Penzance to Exeter St Davids was conducted.

During the following day, the first two units (802 006 and 802 007) entered traffic, conducting a Bristol Temple Meads to Swansea service. The same units were first used in passenger service in Cornwall on 20 August 2018, on a service from London Paddington to Penzance and return. By May 2019, all 36 of the sets had entered service, which allowed them to finish replacing the remaining InterCity 125 sets, alongside the Class 800 units.

In December 2020, it was announced that Hitachi and the Eversholt Rail Group would replace one under-floor diesel engine on each of the 22 five-car 802/0 sets with a battery, converting the units to a tri-mode multiple unit. As a result, pollution and noise levels will be reduced and fuel savings of up to 20% are expected to be achieved. In April 2022, new sidings in Penzance to better facilitate the operation of GWR's nine-car Class 802 sets to Cornwall were announced.

In April 2023, it was announced that all 36 units would be maintained at the Laira Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot in Plymouth.

Hull Trains

Hull Trains Class 802 at London Kings Cross.

During November 2016, the open-access operator Hull Trains announced the signing of a £60million deal to procure five five-car AT300 sets, which it would to replace its existing fleet of Alstom-built Class 180 diesel multiple units on its Hull to London service. The first Class 802 body shell was completed at the Kasado plant in August 2018. During August 2019, the company's drivers commenced training using trains already delivered to TransPennine Express. In the same month, Hull Trains announced that its new train would be known as the Paragon, named after Hull Paragon station.

On 7 November 2019, Hull Trains took delivery of its first Class 802 set (802301). This unit participated in the official launch of the Paragon fleet on 25 November, at which the full livery was unveiled at Hull station. On 5 December 2019, the first Class 802 officially entered service, working the 10:33 Hull to London King's Cross along with the 13:48 return.

Following the introduction of the Class 802 units, the surplus Class 180 units were transferred in stages to East Midlands Railway to replace EMR's three six-carriage HSTs inherited from Grand Central. Hull Trains have configured their Class 802s so that Coach A contains standard seating with wheelchair accommodation, Coach B and Coach C are both standard seating, Coach D is both standard- and first-class seating and Coach E is completely first-class seating with wheelchair accommodation. As a reported result of customer requests, the Class 802s do not have a cafe bar, unlike their Class 180 predecessors.

TransPennine Express

TransPennine Express Class 802s pass each other at Northallerton.

In March 2016, the train operator First TransPennine Express announced the awarding of a contract to Hitachi Rail Europe and leasing company Angel Trains for the supply of 19 five-car Class 802 sets, which would be primarily operated on the North Transpennine route between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh. It had been ordered as one part of ambitious plans to bolster route capacity by 80%. According to Robin Davis, TPE's Head of New Trains, a major rationale behind the Nova 1 fleet was its bi-mode capability, noting that electrification ambitions often had much uncertainty, while a bi-mode fleet eliminated the operational risk to such uncertainty.

While these trains were initially given the Class 803 designation, they were officially redesignated as 802/2s prior to the delivery of the first unit. During December 2017, it was announced that production of the first unit for the operator had begun. In July 2018, testing of the type commenced on the East Coast Main Line. TransPennine Express has branded its new overall fleet Nova, each of the new types being designated either '1', '2' or '3' - the Class 802s being called Nova 1.

During July 2019, TransPennine Express formally accepted the first of its Class 802 trainset. As per the original schedule, the fleet was due to enter service from summer 2019. On 28 September 2019, the first Nova 1 entered revenue-earning service; unit 802201 worked the 06:03 from Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street as well as the return 09:25 service. Clearance for the service had only been received the evening beforehand. Regular scheduled working commenced shortly thereafter.

During October 2021, it was announced that TransPennine Express, Hitachi, and Angel Trains had agreed to convert one of the former's Nova 1 trainsets into a battery hybrid train on a trial basis with the aim of supporting the technology's further development. If successful, Hitachi and Angel Trains have proposed the retrofitting of the entire fleet. In January 2022, reports emerged that the Nova 1 fleet was operating under diesel power even when operating on entirely electrified sections of the East Coast Main Line on account of the insufficient power supplies present along the line; national railway infrastructure owner Network Rail is reportedly set to complete upgrades to the power supplies within two years.

The fleet is also set to benefit from the rollout of electrification under the Transpennine route upgrade scheme. The company's management has noted that, in the event of largescale electrification being funded and implemented, the Class 802s could have some of their engines removed to reduce roughly 15% of their weight and thus raise their efficiency. Furthermore, Leo Goodwin, TPE's managing director, has observed that while the Class 802s have an initial maximum speed of 125 mph (201 km/h), they have the capability of being modified for operating at 140 mph (230 km/h) if infrastructure upgrades were to permit such speeds at a future date.

Fleet details

Subclass Operator Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos.
802/0 Intercity Express Train Great Western Railway 22 2017–2018 5 802001–802022
802/1 Intercity Express Train 14 9 802101–802114
802/2 Nova 1 TransPennine Express 19 2017–2019 5 802201–802219
802/3 Paragon Hull Trains 5 2019–2020 802301–802305

Illustrations

Illustration of a GWR Class 802/1 Intercity Express Train
Illustration of a TransPennine Express Class 802/2 Nova 1
Illustration of a Hull Trains Class 802/3 Paragon

Named units

Great Western Railway

Great Western Railway Class 802 in the special multi-lingual 'Thank You NHS' livery.

Great Western Railway's Intercity Express Trains are being named after "inspirational people" who have influenced the regions that the company serves.

Unit number Date Name
Named trains
802002 19 October 2020 Steve Whiteway
802006 7 October 2020 Harry Billinge MBE
802008 13 April 2019 Rick Rescorla and RNLB Solomon Browne
802010 19 August 2021 Corporal George Sheard and Kieron Griffon
802011 8 December 2018 Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Joshua Reynolds
802013 9 April 2019 Michael Eavis
802018 18 August 2021 Jeremy Doyle and Donovan & Jenifer Gardner
802101 28 November 2019 Nancy Astor
802103 4 May 2023 Y Carolean Hedrgog and Flying Carolean
802110 12 September 2023 Dame Agatha Christie
Special liveries
802020 7 July 2020 NHS Key Workers
9 November 2022 Lily’s Kitchen Santa Paws Express

Hull Trains

Unit number Date Name
802301 October 2022 Amy Johnson
802302 28 October 2022 Jean Bishop (The Bee Lady)
802303 Land of Green Ginger
802304 October 2022 William Wilberforce
802305 November 2022 The Humber Bridge

TransPennine Express

Unit number Date Name
Named trains
802208 2023 Diligence/Robert Stephenson & Co
802210 13 December 2023 Hailes Castle
802212 23 May 2022 St Abb's Head
802213 22 January 2024 Unity
802215 4 May 2023 Palace of Holyroodhouse

Incidents

  • During testing of a Class 802 on the evening of 16 October 2018 ahead of its handover to GWR, severe damage was caused to 500 m (1,600 ft) of overhead power lines in the Hanwell area, outside London Paddington station. This damage led to service cancellations and delays that night and the following two days.

This page was last updated at 2024-03-25 11:05 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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