The Class 800 first entered service as the successor to the diesel high speed train “HST”, and now runs on the GWR (Great Western Railway) and LNER (London North Eastern Railway) main lines in the UK. The Class 800 is characterized by its body being "tucked in" near the bottom to match the UK railways clearance limit, and the yellow pattern on the front car, which enhances visibility. It is a bi-mode electro-diesel vehicle introduced as part of the “Intercity Express Program” (IEP) and installed with state-of-the-art equipment. As a major feature, the train collects power through the pantographs in electrified areas and uses diesel engines or power supplied from its generators in none-electrified areas, making it possible for it to run in both.

The Class 800 is also well known as a rare case of a Japanese train being selected to run on UK main lines. Hitachi Rail had to apply sophisticated railway technology to meet the high conditions out forth by the UK transportation ministry such as high fuel efficiency, a weight limit, operations at the maximum speed of 200 km/h, and switching the power supply source during operations.

● LNER Class800/1 9-Car Set

Class 800, developed by Hitach, Ltd., debuted to replace the conventional HST (High Speed Diesel Train) under the IEP being promoted in U.K. Class 800 was manufactured in Kasado factory of Hitachi, Ltd., Yamaguchi, Japan and Hitachi Rail U.K. factory in the bi-mode to be able to pass directly electrified and unelectrified areas. Kato will make newly the model of Class 800/1 consisting of 9 cars, which is characterized by such features as inner-framed bogiges, middle cars with simple rooftops and middle cars, all of which are 1st class coaches, that is different fromt the predecessor train of 5 cars.

 

Composition of Trains