British Rail Class 803
| British Rail Class 803 AT300 | |
|---|---|
 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 |
| Fleet numbers | 803001–803005 |
| Capacity | 402 seats[2] |
| Operators | Lumo |
| Depots | Craigentinny (Edinburgh)[3] |
| Lines served | East Coast Main Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Doors |
|
| Maximum speed | In service: 124 mph (200 km/h) Design: 140 mph (230 km/h) |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| 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.[4] 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.
Background
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.[5]
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.[6]
The first test runs on the national network were held on 26 May 2021,[7] with the class entering public service on Lumo's launch day of 25 October 2021.
Operation
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.[8] 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.[9]
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | No. built | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 803 | Lumo | 5 | 2020–2021 | 5 | 803001–803005 |
Accidents and incidents
On 17 April 2022, a Lumo-operated class 803 passed through a set of points at Peterborough at 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) where there was a speed restriction of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). Several passengers sustained minor injuries. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch opened an investigation into the incident.[10]
References
- ^ "First '803' Bodyshells Arrive". Modern Railways. Key Publishing Limited. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Lam, Sophie (25 October 2021). "Low-cost electric rail operator Lumo launches between London and Edinburgh". i. Associated Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ "Lumo set for October start". Modern Railways. Key Publishing Limited. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ "First orders AT300s for ECML open access operation". www.railmagazine.com. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Budget East Coast Train Service Is Approved". Sky News. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "[UK] The first FirstGroup AT300 arrives in the UK". Railcolor News. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- ^ Holden, Michael (28 May 2021). "WATCH: New East Coast Trains Class 803s go on test in Darlington". RailAdvent. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ Clinnick, Richard (22 March 2019). "First orders AT300s for ECML open access operation". Rail. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ 2019-03-21T11:14:51+00:00. "Trains ordered for 2021 launch of 'high-quality, low fare' London – Edinburgh service". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Overspeeding incident at Peterborough station". Rail Accident Investigation Branch. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.