LNER Azuma (Class 800/801)

[Antman]

It was 800101 (the former Virgin Azuma demonstrator) and 801102 I believe - they haven't yet had the modifications the later builds have had. They'll also be commissioned there (as with the last visitors). Logos'll get added at Donny Carr.

The no logos on 800101 threw me. I recalled it having logos, so without makeup on I didn’t recognise her.....

 

[59CosG95]

The no logos on 800101 threw me. I recalled it having logos, so without makeup on I didn’t recognise her.....

I suspect they were removed pretty sharpish after the 'handover'...

 

[whhistle]

Sorry, this may have been written.
Is there a set pattern the set(s?) will be working?

I notice on some sites it describes the service as "electric loco" but others say "HST125"

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

800102 delivering some pretty awesome performance on the 1103 off the King today.

Those who dislike the GWR IET seats (and I don’t blame you) - the LNER Azuma seats are worlds apart in both classes. Standard has much more padding which is a bit firm but the seat base feels very similar to the IC225 Mallard seat. The first class cushion is leather and makes a huge difference, the first class seat is deeper too so your back is not straight up, the recline is also a lot more than on the current LNER fleet.

 

[cactustwirly]

Sorry, this may have been written.
Is there a set pattern the set(s?) will be working?

I notice on some sites it describes the service as "electric loco" but others say "HST125"

Those are the timing loads, and don't really mean anything, as the booked IET services use HST/91 timing loads.
There's a thread somewhere with the booked 800 workings, they have set diagrams because of the special ccontract with Agility trains.

 

[Ray303_265]

As a seasoned East Coast traveller I’ll miss the 225s when they come off the ECML soon. First Class always represents excellent space and luxurious comfort. Surely 91s & Mk.4 sets have a bit of life in them yet. Blackpool runs to Euston? I look forward to the Azuma although I do hope it isn’t more than a glorified Voyager...

 

[Shepley]

1st class Azuma menus are now available to view online

https://www.lner.co.uk/the-east-coast-experience/first-class/menu/#seasonalMenu1

They have taken the bubble and squeak off the breakfast menu. Boo!

 

[aswilliamsuk]

800102, I think? Just north of Finsbury Park, powering into King's Cross three minutes early on 1A33 today.

 

[ashkeba]

And there are a number of people posting on this forum who are obsessed about the supposed 'problem' of Reading commuters - though them being to blame for trolley catering is a new one. A service that the commuters couldn't care less about anyway, on a journey lasting 25 minutes, between stations drowning in places to buy food and drink if they did feel hungry or thirsty.

For some mysterious reason, complaints about Thames Valley overcrowding seem to have pretty much evaporated in recent months with the IET and 387 takeover and the resulting long overdue substantial increase in peak seating capacity on the GWML.

On an overcrowded HST between Paddington and Reading it wouldn't have made a blind bit of a difference whether there was a buffet or trolley, as people could no more move through those trains than a trolley could.

Except it makes a difference because no buffet means more space for seating.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with either view but GWR are subject to very different lobbying than LNER for the reasons I outlined.

 

[ashkeba]

As a seasoned East Coast traveller I’ll miss the 225s when they come off the ECML soon. First Class always represents excellent space and luxurious comfort. Surely 91s & Mk.4 sets have a bit of life in them yet. Blackpool runs to Euston? I look forward to the Azuma although I do hope it isn’t more than a glorified Voyager...

Glorified Javelin would be a more likely worst case scenario, given the different manufacturers.

Is there a thread for the next jobs of the Mark 4s?

Edit: there's some info in https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lner-class-91-mk4-withdrawals.182066/

 

[Julia]

Not so good... noted 800102 at Kings Cross on 1H10 back towards Hull; the Azuma sat down on the fast line at Welwyn for 20 minutes or so delaying 1P56 which was immediately behind, while I'm on 1P50 which ran slow line from Potters Bar.

 

[Pete_uk]

They have taken the bubble and squeak off the breakfast menu. Boo!

For gods sake! They still have dripping sarnies though, dont they?

On a serious note has anyone had a good look at both GWRs and LNERs 800s to see what the diffrences are? It might just be different fabric squeezing the new padding differently.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As a seasoned East Coast traveller I’ll miss the 225s when they come off the ECML soon. First Class always represents excellent space and luxurious comfort. Surely 91s & Mk.4 sets have a bit of life in them yet. Blackpool runs to Euston? I look forward to the Azuma although I do hope it isn’t more than a glorified Voyager...

They are far, far better trains than Voyagers in just about every way other than the seats, and seats can be replaced. And I don't mind Voyagers.

Let's see:
- Less engine noise
- Fewer rattles
- Doesn't smell of wee
- Better aircon
- More legroom
- Longer and a more efficient layout so more capacity
- Look more like a proper train
- More modern engines so not as many particulates kicked out
- No need to run on diesel under the wires
Etc.

While the Mk4s have better seats (though I'd say the 80x seats are on a par with the original Mk4 seats which were pretty rubbish), I would say the 80x is a better-put-together train than those with a far better ride. Only on a Mk4 have I ever felt the ride was *so* bad I was considering if we were about to come off the road.

 

[Skimble19]

Not so good... noted 800102 at Kings Cross on 1H10 back towards Hull; the Azuma sat down on the fast line at Welwyn for 20 minutes or so delaying 1P56 which was immediately behind, while I'm on 1P50 which ran slow line from Potters Bar.

Brake fault according to Tyrell. Luckily only 1P56 was stuck behind it and ended up running as booked albeit late, everything else was sent round.

 

[jimm]

Except it makes a difference because no buffet means more space for seating.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with either view but GWR are subject to very different lobbying than LNER for the reasons I outlined.

That GWR sets don't have a buffet has rather more to do with what the Department for Transport decided it wanted on its pet trains than fantasies about lobbying by commuters. For whatever reason, the bidders for the East Coast franchise were given some latitude on train interiors and VTEC was allowed to specify a buffet.

 

[ashkeba]

That GWR sets don't have a buffet has rather more to do with what the Department for Transport decided it wanted on its pet trains than fantasies about lobbying by commuters. For whatever reason, the bidders for the East Coast franchise were given some latitude on train interiors and VTEC was allowed to specify a buffet.

Yes, I'm sure you're right and the DfT is immune to lobbying(!)

 

[Robert Mann]

Does anyone know if any Azumas are likely to run through Darlington at all this week, on test runs/driver training runs, etc?

 

[yorkie]

Yes, I'm sure you're right and the DfT is immune to lobbying(!)

I believe the DfT's view on almost anything is that it is a matter for the individual train companies... even when the train companies are only doing what DfT tells them to do!

 

[800001]

Does anyone know if any Azumas are likely to run through Darlington at all this week, on test runs/driver training runs, etc?

Yes, there is usually a morning and early evening run from/to Heaton.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N40036/2019/05/20/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K97117/2019/05/20/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N40013/2019/05/20/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N40031/2019/05/20/advanced

The above are what I can see for Monday, they may or may not all run.

 

[thejuggler]

Just seen a 9 unit going over Harrogate viaduct.

 

[jimm]

Yes, I'm sure you're right and the DfT is immune to lobbying(!)

From the word go the IEP project was driven by what people inside the DfT had decided they wanted - they weren't that interested in what TOCs and the rail industry generally were trying to tell them, so why on earth would commuters in Reading have some kind of Svengali-type power over them when it came to catering arrangements?

 

[Swimbar]

Just seen a 9 unit going over Harrogate viaduct.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/N63617/2019/05/19/advanced

 

[ashkeba]

From the word go the IEP project was driven by what people inside the DfT had decided they wanted - they weren't that interested in what TOCs and the rail industry generally were trying to tell them, so why on earth would commuters in Reading have some kind of Svengali-type power over them when it came to catering arrangements?

Years of bleating pushing the DfT decision.

 

[Railperf]

Reservation traffic lights not working on the 13.03 to Leeds:
A group of girls sit close to me...first girl to the second girl..."is this the new train you have been screaming about?"....second girl replies.."yes". first girl says...what is the fuss about ..."this is the most uncomfortable train i have ever sat on. They have taken all the padding out of the seats".
Enough said!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Reservation traffic lights not working on the 13.03 to Leeds:
A group of girls sit close to me...first girl to the second girl..."is this the new train you have been screaming about?"....second girl replies.."yes". first girl says...what is the fuss about ..."this is the most uncomfortable train i have ever sat on. They have taken all the padding out of the seats".
Enough said!

Probably quite noticeable given that the current cushions on the Mk4s are VERY soft.

 

[squizzler]

Agree
It is a silly name from the Virgin PR handbook?

I don't understand why many on this forum dislike the name. No more silly in my opinion than greek names 'Deltic' and 'Electra' At least there is a Japanese connection in this instance and it's probably easier to explain why they chose this name than that of the deltic which requires you to explain engine cylinder configurations.

 

[Darandio]

Agree
It is a silly name from the Virgin PR handbook?

It's also a name that LNER had considered abandoning when they took over but staff urged them not to. Apparently.

 

[lammergeier]

I don't understand why many on this forum dislike the name. No more silly in my opinion than greek names 'Deltic' and 'Electra' At least there is a Japanese connection in this instance and it's probably easier to explain why they chose this name than that of the deltic which requires you to explain engine cylinder configurations.

I suspect it has to do with the absurd, cringeworthy PR which accompanied the launch of the name as only Virgin can do. All the garbage about lazers having babies with whatever it was and out came a train, that stuff. As far as names go it's not that bad really and I reckon if Virgin hadn't launched it it might have had a more positive response.

 

[Meerkat]

I really don’t understand this hatred of Virgin adding a bit of colour - do people want railways to be boring and something people only use because they have to?

 

[Ethano92]

Agree
It is a silly name from the Virgin PR handbook?

It's not the worst name.

It 'links' to the train's Japanese design, and to the train's presence on the ECML

It differentiates the trains from their IET counterparts with GWR which is a positive from a PR standpoint as the GWR sets haven't had a warm welcome or good reputation and in compariosn the Azumas seem much more wanted and anticipated.

Finally, despite real pronunciations I think I'm safe saying the majority will approach the word as "A-zoom-a" which certainly brings about a sense of speed which is a good connotation to have with an intercity service.