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LNER Azuma (Class 800/801)

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Kieran1990

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Are there enough 800s to run the full service to Edinburgh without any HSTs, or will any 801s need to be temporarily converted?

I think the issue is not the 800/801/802’s tripping the signalling.. it’s electrical supply problems. I imagine LNER will be find operating all services on the juice, TPE’s are probably a little to much each hour.
Also Class 800’s would struggle to keep to time north of NCL on diesel wouldn’t they?
 

hexagon789

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I sense one will stay electric at least but definitely not everything will be electric until December 2021.

Which is about when they are maintained the present timetable until as well isn't it? So there's no need to better current timings until then I guess.
 

ainsworth74

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I sense one will stay electric at least but definitely not everything will be electric until December 2021.

Surely LNER will be able to operate at least two per hour on electric as that matches the current number of electric services, roughly, operating on the area in question. Or is the power draw of an Azuma that much more than a 91?
 

hexagon789

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Also Class 800’s would struggle to keep to time north of NCL on diesel wouldn’t they?

Well, we know they are worse than 2+8 HSTs, when you get to 2+9 it's not as bad, I think the difference over longer distances is probably a bit less than with GWR on their shorter station-to-station gaps.

I think LNER could get away with it more so than GWR could.
 

YorkshireBear

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Surely LNER will be able to operate at least two per hour on electric as that matches the current number of electric services, roughly, operating on the area in question. Or is the power draw of an Azuma that much more than a 91?

I think they draw more but I can't find my source at the moment so it's definitely not confirmed!
 

59CosG95

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I think the issue is not the 800/801/802’s tripping the signalling.. it’s electrical supply problems. I imagine LNER will be find operating all services on the juice, TPE’s are probably a little to much each hour.
Also Class 800’s would struggle to keep to time north of NCL on diesel wouldn’t they?
Phase Two of the ECML PSU is due to begin soon, I understand.
 

800001

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Azumas are now authorised to operate Edinburgh - London in electric mode.
 

samuelmorris

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I think the issue is not the 800/801/802’s tripping the signalling.. it’s electrical supply problems. I imagine LNER will be find operating all services on the juice, TPE’s are probably a little to much each hour.
Also Class 800’s would struggle to keep to time north of NCL on diesel wouldn’t they?
Yes that was my point - if they can't run every service in electric mode, then they can't operate every service to Edinburgh with 801s. I wasn't sure how many 800s that would result in needing outside the routes that explicitly still require bi-modes (e.g. beyond Edinburgh, Hull, Harrogate etc)
 

59CosG95

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Yes that was my point - if they can't run every service in electric mode, then they can't operate every service to Edinburgh with 801s. I wasn't sure how many 800s that would result in needing outside the routes that explicitly still require bi-modes (e.g. beyond Edinburgh, Hull, Harrogate etc)
I suspect that the beefier engines on TPE's 802s mean that, if anything, they'll be more likely to run in diesel north of Newcastle.
I hope, but don't hold out much of it, for the northern section of the ECML to use Auto-Transformer Feeding.
 

59CosG95

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Apologies if this is a very basic question! Do we have an up to date list of Azumas that are now in service?
Yes - 800102 through 800113 are now all in service. The 800/2s are about 75-80% complete, and the 801/1s are pretty much there too. They (the 801/1s) should be starting on Leeds diagrams soon, in 2x5 formation (i.e. 10 cars), which should free up 800/1s for Edinburgh services.

As mentioned upthread, 800101 is currently tucked away at Doncaster Carr IEPD, with a special livery allegedly in the pipeline. Rumour has it that it's due to work the first Azuma-operated 1E01 (0540 EDB-KGX, aka the "Flying Scotsman")...
 

Andy Pacer

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Yes - 800102 through 800113 are now all in service. The 800/2s are about 75-80% complete, and the 801/1s are pretty much there too. They (the 801/1s) should be starting on Leeds diagrams soon, in 2x5 formation (i.e. 10 cars), which should free up 800/1s for Edinburgh services.

As mentioned upthread, 800101 is currently tucked away at Doncaster Carr IEPD, with a special livery allegedly in the pipeline. Rumour has it that it's due to work the first Azuma-operated 1E01 (0540 EDB-KGX, aka the "Flying Scotsman")...

Excellent that's really helpful thanks, I'd rather lost track and keep seeing the same two or three (800102/111/113) all the time!
 

samuelmorris

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I suspect that the beefier engines on TPE's 802s mean that, if anything, they'll be more likely to run in diesel north of Newcastle.
I hope, but don't hold out much of it, for the northern section of the ECML to use Auto-Transformer Feeding.
Of course, yes that makes sense. I'd rather forgotten the LNER units will presumably have the same restrictions as the GWR units. Presumably then as long as the TPE services run diesel, the LNER fleet can all run electric with the power supply in the state it will be in after enough 80x are around to displace all the HSTs.
 

swt_passenger

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I suspect that the beefier engines on TPE's 802s mean that, if anything, they'll be more likely to run in diesel north of Newcastle...
North of Chathill neutral section, which (as stated in the TPE track access application) will be their changeover point from OHLE to diesel until PSU phase 2 is complete.
 

InOban

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How long does this diesel section last? I'm sure they can enter Edinburgh pan up.
 

swt_passenger

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How long does this diesel section last? I'm sure they can enter Edinburgh pan up.
Presumably it will be the northern end of the OHLE section fed from Marshall Meadows feeder station, not sure of the name. I haven’t got the Scottish sectional appendix to hand, perhaps someone will know without having to find it online.

Is it Reston that is the next neutral section north, then Innerwick feeder station, just across the A1 from Torness power station?
 
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Jamesrob637

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I had my first go on an Azuma on Saturday albeit only from Leeds to Wakefield Westgate and return:

Impressions:

Quiet
Smooth
Lots of airline-style seats for good capacity
Good legroom in the airline seats, a little crammed in the table seats but better than a Mk3 on which I travelled that day also
Seat reservations extremely clear with the traffic light system
Didn't have food as the journey is literally a few minutes so can't comment on catering
Seat comfort okay but even a Pacer with bus seats is fine for a few minutes' journey.

Look forward to trying one out on a longer journey soon!
 

A7rud

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Yes - 800102 through 800113 are now all in service. The 800/2s are about 75-80% complete, and the 801/1s are pretty much there too. They (the 801/1s) should be starting on Leeds diagrams soon, in 2x5 formation (i.e. 10 cars), which should free up 800/1s for Edinburgh services.

As mentioned upthread, 800101 is currently tucked away at Doncaster Carr IEPD, with a special livery allegedly in the pipeline. Rumour has it that it's due to work the first Azuma-operated 1E01 (0540 EDB-KGX, aka the "Flying Scotsman")...

If the rumour is correct, is the smart money on a new Flying Scotsman livery?
 

61248

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I've had my 1st ride on an 800 from King's Cross to Grantham and was glad to get off,one of the most uncomfortable journeys I've had (the worst was on GWR 800 which left me in pain on a trip from Bristol TM to Paddington),both trips in 1st class
The ride north out of King's Cross was extremely rough and I won't mention how uncomfortable I find any Fainsa seat
I was sat near the end,though how much difference this would make I'm not sure
I will take another longer trip to see if I was unlucky with the ride quality,but once the MK111 & Mk 1Vs have gone I will not be using LNER on my trips from Grantham to Edinburgh,I want to be able to walk at the end of the journey
 

800001

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I've heard it will be given a nameplate, but not a special livery as they want the fleet to remain uniform.

Well my theory (following various sources confirming livery) are blown out the water after seeing 800101 outside Doncaster depot in full normal lner livery.
 
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