British Rail Class 810

British Rail Class 810 Aurora
810001 on test at Newark Northgate for East Midlands Railway
In servicePlanned for early 2025[1]
ManufacturerHitachi Rail
Built at
Family nameA-train
ReplacedClass 222
Constructed2021–present[2]
Number under construction33
Formation
  • 5 cars per unit:
  • DPTS-MS-TS-MC-DPTF[3]
Fleet numbers810 001–810 033
Capacity
  • 301 seats[3]
  • (47 first class, 254 standard)
OwnersRock Rail East Midlands
OperatorsEast Midlands Railway
DepotsDerby Etches Park[2]
Lines servedMidland Main Line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium[2]
Car length24 m (78 ft 9 in)[4]
Maximum speed125 mph (200 km/h)[5]
Prime mover(s)4 × MTU turbo-diesel[4]
Power output735 kW (986 hp) per engine, 2,940 kW (3,940 hp) in total[4]
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classification
  • 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′[6]
Safety system(s)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 810 Aurora is a type of bi-mode multiple unit being constructed by Hitachi Rail for East Midlands Railway. Based on the Hitachi AT300 design, 33 five-car units will replace Class 222 units on EMR's intercity routes.

Background

In July 2012, it was announced by Network Rail that the Midland Main Line (MML) would be electrified north of Bedford, allowing the diesel trains currently used on the route by to be replaced with new electric trains.[8][9] However, electrification was 'paused' by Network Rail in June 2015,[10] and then cancelled in July 2017 by then-Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, who made the decision to use bi-mode trains on the MML instead.[11]

In August 2019, East Midlands Railway placed a £400 million order for 33 five-car bi-mode units, replacing its Class 180 and 222 fleets on the MML.[12][13][14][11][note 1] The order is being funded by Rock Rail East Midlands.[11] It was originally planned that the new trains would enter service before December 2022;[16][17][18] following multiple extensions,[7][19] the fleet is planned to enter service in early 2025 as of March 2024.[1]

In October 2020, following a public competition,[20] EMR announced they would be branded as Aurora.[21]

Design

The Class 810 is a modification of the Class 802 units Hitachi have delivered to a number of British train operators.[22] The major change is a 2-metre (6 ft 7 in) reduction in the length of each vehicle, which is required in order to allow paired (ten-car) Class 810 trains to use London St Pancras station.[4] Some of the length reduction has been achieved by reprofiling the front end of the train and shortening the nosecone.[3]

Compared to Class 802 units, the 810s will also be fitted with an additional diesel power pack—for a total of four—and each engine will be uprated from 700 to 735 kilowatts (939 to 986 hp). Both of these changes are intended to satisfy the franchise requirement that the new trains equal or exceed the performance of the current Class 222 units.[3] The power packs will be installed under the first, second, fourth, and fifth vehicles, while the third (centre) vehicle will carry the high-voltage transformer. Traction motors will be fitted to the bogies of the second and fourth vehicles.[4]

Interior

Interior of the Class 810

In response to customer feedback regarding seating comfort on earlier Class 80x units, both first- and standard-class seats on the Class 810 will be of a unique design that is intended to offer enhanced comfort. They will be based on the existing FISA Lean design, but of an altered appearance. EMR were working closely with Derby-based design company DGDESIGN on the design of the new interiors.[23] It is claimed that the seats will have wider cushions, more-sculpted headrests, softer and deeper armrests, additional privacy screening, and be upholstered in a wool-rich moquette that is intended to be easier to keep clean. Every passenger will have access to power sockets and USB charging points, at-seat coat hooks, and storage space under each seat.[24][25]

Fleet details

Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos.
810 East Midlands Railway 33 2021–present[2] 5 TBC

Notes

  1. ^ The Class 810 fleet will no longer directly replace Class 180 units, as EMR withdrew them at the May 2023 timetable change, earlier than originally expected.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "East Midlands Railway reveals the interior looks of its new Aurora train fleet". News. Railways Illustrated. No. 254. April 2024. p. 7.
  2. ^ a b c d Holden, Michael (22 April 2021). "East Midlands Railway releases new video as welding begins on new Aurora trains". RailAdvent. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Enter the Aurora". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "EMR unveils Aurora bi-mode details". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Speed limiters for Hitachi fleets". Traction & Stock. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 168, no. 1457. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. August 2022. p. 92. ISSN 0033-8923.
  6. ^ Pritchard, Robert (March 2021). "Designing the Auroras". Today's Railways UK. No. 229. Platform 5.
  7. ^ a b Sherratt, Philip (25 June 2020). "ETCS for EMR bi-modes". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. ISSN 0026-8356. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Midlands line 'to be electrified'". BBC News. BBC. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Network Rail to spend £500m electrifying Midland Mainline". BBC News. BBC. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Electrification of Midland Mainline 'paused' by Network Rail". BBC News. BBC. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Clinnick, Richard (25 January 2021). "MML electrification can be enabled by Class 810s". Rail. Bauer Media Group. ISSN 0953-4563. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  12. ^ "AT300 - Intercity High Speed". www.hitachirail-eu.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  13. ^ "In Brief". Railways Illustrated. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. April 2020. p. 19. ISSN 1479-2230.
  14. ^ "EMR welcomes first LNER HST into passenger service". Rail. No. 905. Bauer Media Group. 20 May 2020. p. 25. ISSN 0953-4563.
  15. ^ "EMR confirms withdrawal of Class 180s". Modern Railways. No. 895. Stamford: Key Publishing. March 2023. p. 11. ISSN 0026-8356.
  16. ^ "Abellio invests £400 million in new Hitachi trains for East Midlands Railway". Global Railway Review. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  17. ^ Clinnick, Richard. "Hitachi wins £400 million deal for East Midlands Railway bi-mode fleet". Rail. Bauer Media Group. ISSN 0953-4563. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  18. ^ Clinnick, Richard (8 April 2020). "Class 810 bi-modes". Rail. No. 902. Peterborough: Bauer Media Group. p. 27. ISSN 0953-4563.
  19. ^ "EMR to lose Class 180 fleet". Rail Express. No. 322. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. March 2023. p. 11. ISSN 1362-234X.
  20. ^ "Name our train". East Midlands Railway. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Aurora brand for East Midlands Railway Class 810 inter-city fleet". Rail Business UK. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Abellio orders East Midlands inter-city fleet". Rail Business UK. DVV Media Group. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  23. ^ "East Midlands Railway". DG Design. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  24. ^ "East Midlands Railways unveils newly designed seats for state-of-the-art Aurora fleet". East Midlands Railway. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Sampling the new seats for EMR's Aurora bi-modes". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. ISSN 0026-8356. Retrieved 2 March 2022.