British Rail Class 803 | |
---|---|
![]() Lumo Class 803 at Edinburgh Waverley | |
![]() Interior of a Class 803 unit | |
In service | 2021–present |
Manufacturer | Hitachi Rail |
Built at |
|
Family name | A-train |
Constructed | 2020–2021 |
Entered service | 25 October 2021 |
Number built | 5 |
Formation | 5 cars per unit: DPTS-MS-MS-MS-DPTS [2] |
Fleet numbers | 803001–803005 |
Capacity | 402 seats [3] |
Operators | Lumo |
Depots | Craigentinny (Edinburgh) [4] |
Lines served | East Coast Main Line |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Aluminium |
Doors |
|
Maximum speed | 125 mph (200 km/h) [5] |
Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic (disc) and regenerative |
Safety system(s) | |
Multiple working | Within class |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 803 AT300 is a type of electric multiple unit built by Japanese rolling stock manufacturer Hitachi Rail for open-access operator Lumo. [6] Based on the Hitachi A-train design, a total of five units comprising five cars have been produced. The class is used to operate passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley.
In 2015, following an announcement from the Office of Rail and Road that it would be allowing open-access operators to bid for additional rail paths on the East Coast Main Line, FirstGroup submitted a proposal to operate services between London and Edinburgh. Under its plan, First would seek to directly compete with existing road, rail and air services by offering all standard class seating with an average ticket price of approximately £25. The proposal for the new service was approved in May 2016. [7]
In March 2019, First announced that it had signed an agreement with Hitachi to procure a total of five new five-car trains from its A-train product line for its new service. The units are financed by Beacon Rail with a ten-year maintenance contract. The first body shell arrived at Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe Manufacturing Facility in April 2020. [8]
The first test runs on the national network were held on 26 May 2021, [9] with the class entering public service on Lumo's launch day of 25 October 2021.
While sharing a bodyshell with the previous UK A-train variants, the Class 803 differs in that it has no diesel engines fitted. They are fitted with batteries to enable the train's on-board services to be maintained, in case the primary electrical supplies have failed. [6] Other changes include seating being standard class only, and the lack of a galley area, although catering services are provided through the use of a trolley service. The units also feature air conditioning, power sockets and free Wi-Fi. [10]
Subclass | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
803/0 | Lumo | 5 | 2020–2021 | 5 | 803001–803005 |
Unit number | Date | Name | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
803005 | 19 May 2023 | Proudly from Newcastle the home of Stephenson's Works bicentenary 1823–2023 | [11] |
On 17 April 2022, a Lumo-operated Class 803 passed through a set of points at Peterborough railway station at 75 mph (121 km/h) where there was a speed restriction of 25 mph (40 km/h). Some passengers were thrown from their seats and sustained minor injuries. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch opened an investigation into the incident. [12]
The East Coast Main Line (ECML) is a 393-mile long (632 km) electrified railway between its southern terminus at London King's Cross station and Edinburgh Waverley via Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle. The line is a key transport artery on the eastern side of Great Britain running broadly parallel to the A1 road. The main line acts as a 'spine' for several diverging branches, serving destinations such as Cambridge, Leeds, Hull, Sunderland and Lincoln, all with direct services to London. In addition, a few ECML services extend beyond Edinburgh to serve Glasgow Central, although the principal London-Glasgow route is the West Coast Main Line (WCML).
Morpeth is a railway station on the East Coast Main Line, which runs between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. The station, situated 16 miles 50 chains north of Newcastle, serves the historic market town of Morpeth, Northumberland, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
The British Rail Class 153 Super Sprinter are single-coach railcars converted from two-coach Class 155 diesel multiple units in the early 1990s. The class was intended for service on rural branch lines, either where passenger numbers do not justify longer trains or to boost the capacity on services with high passenger volume.
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