British Rail Class 803
| British Rail Class 803 AT300 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hitachi |
| Family name | A-Train |
| Entered service | 2021 (planned) |
| Number under construction | 5 × 5-car sets |
| Fleet numbers | 803001–005 |
| Operators | East Coast Trains |
| Lines served | East Coast Main Line |
| Specifications | |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead lines |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 803 is a type of electric multiple unit being built by Japanese rolling stock manufacturer Hitachi for new operator East Coast Trains.[1] Based on the Hitachi A-train design, a total of five 5-car units will be produced.
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 between London and Scotland, FirstGroup put in a proposal to operate open-access 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 with an average ticket price of approximately £25. The proposal for the new service was approved in May 2016, with it due to being operation in May 2021.[2]
In March 2019, First announced that it had signed an agreement with Hitachi to procure a total of five new 5-car trains from its A-Train product line for its East Coast service. These were to be electric AT300 units similar to the Class 801 units obtained for LNER.[3] Unlike the Class 800 and 802, the new units will not be fitted with a diesel engine, and so would not be able to propel themselves in the event of a power failure. They will however be fitted with batteries to enable the train's on-board services to be maintained.[4] It was announced in November 2019 that they would be classified as Class 803.[5]
Operations
East Coast Trains plan to retain only standard class accommodation throughout their new Class 803 units, with no first class accommodation at all. All units will also have on-board buffets, air conditioning, power sockets and free Wi-Fi.[6]
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | No. built | Year built | Cars per set | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 803 | East Coast Trains | 5 | TBC | 5 | 803001–005 |
References
- ^ "First orders AT300s for ECML open access operation". www.railmagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
- ^ "Budget East Coast Train Service Is Approved". Sky News. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "FirstGroup and Hitachi announce new partnership for high speed trains linking London and Edinburgh". FirstGroup. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ Clinnick, Richard (22 March 2019). "First orders AT300s for ECML open access operation". Rail. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Enter Classes 803 and 804". Today's Railways. Platform 5. December 2019. p. 65.
- ^ 2019-03-21T11:14:51+00:00. "Trains ordered for 2021 launch of 'high-quality, low fare' London – Edinburgh service". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
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