Progress on Avanti West Coast's 805/807s Hitachi AT300 sets

[Liverpool 507]

Today's Railways UK on Twitter have supplied two images of the interior of the 805s - https://twitter.com/TodaysRailways/status/1618987541583269892

 

[william.martin]

Today's Railways UK on Twitter have supplied two images of the interior of the 805s - https://twitter.com/TodaysRailways/status/1618987541583269892

Just a 390 in an 80x body to me.

 

[Harold]

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K05060/2023-01-30/detailed - With the light engine move pathway already posted I noticed this pathway running to Oxley later on in the day on Monday 30/1/2023.

 

[TheHolyGrayl]

Today's Railways UK on Twitter have supplied two images of the interior of the 805s - https://twitter.com/TodaysRailways/status/1618987541583269892

Interesting to see what looks like an LCD PIS above the vestibule door rather than green LED signs used on the other 80Xs! I wonder if it’ll display anything useful like the Stadler and Class 700 screens - I imagine it’s rather too small though

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The refurbished Pendolinos have mint green walls at the saloon ends by the new PIS and doors, (where they were fake wood brown with the original interior), yet that design inclusion seems to have been ommited on the 80x in favour of an awful plain white, which is a big shame I think.

I’m not trying to be deliberately pessimistic but it just looks very plain and clinical, and somewhat bland, compared to the refurbished 390 interior.

 

[Bald Rick]

Just a 390 in an 80x body to me.

You sound surprised. Why would it be any different?

 

[ZCreaser]

Today's Railways UK on Twitter have supplied two images of the interior of the 805s - https://twitter.com/TodaysRailways/status/1618987541583269892

Looks very budget IMHO. They could have took this opportunity to do something special with the interior. Make it look classy, modern, spacious. However this, this just looks cheap and very budget. Saying that, what would I know?

 

[Roger B]

Just a 390 in an 80x body to me.

And, personally, I dislike travelling in a refurbed pendo even less than I did an unrefurbed one - they just feel so claustrophobic - nearly as bad as the GWR Mk3s ended up being.

It's the tall wide headrests, which restrict much of your view to the back of the seats in front, and it's difficult to see anything of the world passing by on the other side of the carriage (and often little better for the same side of the carriage, given poor window alignment and wide window stachions). And if you stand-up and look down the carriage, pretty much all you can see is seatbacks - such a poor comparison with Mk3s as first configured. Yes, headrests are needed, but early versions were nowhere near as intrusive/obstructive.

Yes, I get it that these trains are designed to move people from A to B, and most people will rarely lift their eyes from their screens, but for leisure travellers (who, we're told, are an increasingly significant part of the market), there are many (me included, and I suspect many others on this forum), for whom the experience is as or more important than getting to the destination. I enjoy watching the world go by, the ever changing landscapes, both natural and man-made, and railway infrastructure and constructions. Whilst I may pass a few hours seeing the sights of wherever I get to, it's usually the journeys themselves that provide the main enjoyment - and lasting memories - than whatever I may find at journey's end.

Which, I guess, is why I generally hop over the pennines and take a meridian to London. Whatever's said about the meridians, I find them airy, spacious, and I usually have no problem finding a window seat with a table with provides me with great views - and can easily see windows on the opposite side of the train to see what's happening there as well.

And I'm less bothered about what kind of seat I'm sat on, than what I can see. For me what you can see is the main part of a train journey - not how comfortable (or otherwise) the seat is. Perhaps many hours sat on BRUTEs all around the country desensitised my nether regions! It's the view that tells me I'm on a train, rather on some random seat that could be anywhere.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The refurbished Pendolinos have mint green walls at the saloon ends by the new PIS and doors, (where they were fake wood brown with the original interior), yet that design inclusion seems to have been ommited on the 80x in favour of an awful plain white, which is a big shame I think.

I’m not trying to be deliberately pessimistic but it just looks very plain and clinical, and somewhat bland, compared to the refurbished 390 interior.

It looks like the mint green to me. I prefer the dark blue on the Voyagers.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I went on two refurbished Pendolino earlier this month and liked them. I should therefore quite like these if ever I get to ride one, as they're not working Manchester services unless there are problems.

 

[Energy]

I’m not trying to be deliberately pessimistic but it just looks very plain and clinical, and somewhat bland, compared to the refurbished 390 interior.

Agreed, overall good but could do with some fake wood vinyl on the walls to the vestibule. An improvement on other 80Xs but could be improved.

 

[Peter Sarf]

And, personally, I dislike travelling in a refurbed pendo even less than I did an unrefurbed one - they just feel so claustrophobic - nearly as bad as the GWR Mk3s ended up being.

It's the tall wide headrests, which restrict much of your view to the back of the seats in front, and it's difficult to see anything of the world passing by on the other side of the carriage (and often little better for the same side of the carriage, given poor window alignment and wide window stachions). And if you stand-up and look down the carriage, pretty much all you can see is seatbacks - such a poor comparison with Mk3s as first configured. Yes, headrests are needed, but early versions were nowhere near as intrusive/obstructive.

Yes, I get it that these trains are designed to move people from A to B, and most people will rarely lift their eyes from their screens, but for leisure travellers (who, we're told, are an increasingly significant part of the market), there are many (me included, and I suspect many others on this forum), for whom the experience is as or more important than getting to the destination. I enjoy watching the world go by, the ever changing landscapes, both natural and man-made, and railway infrastructure and constructions. Whilst I may pass a few hours seeing the sights of wherever I get to, it's usually the journeys themselves that provide the main enjoyment - and lasting memories - than whatever I may find at journey's end.

Which, I guess, is why I generally hop over the pennines and take a meridian to London. Whatever's said about the meridians, I find them airy, spacious, and I usually have no problem finding a window seat with a table with provides me with great views - and can easily see windows on the opposite side of the train to see what's happening there as well.

And I'm less bothered about what kind of seat I'm sat on, than what I can see. For me what you can see is the main part of a train journey - not how comfortable (or otherwise) the seat is. Perhaps many hours sat on BRUTEs all around the country desensitised my nether regions! It's the view that tells me I'm on a train, rather on some random seat that could be anywhere.

Oh well, a chance to improve on the Pendolinos missed. No need to cross the Pennines as I find a 350 perfectly fine and cheaper (thats if doing London/North-West). I went off Pendolinos early on in their existence when I went London to Glasgow on one. Poor view and incessant noise from the aircon - might as well fly for a lot less.

 

[HammerDown154]

Will the 7 car 80x call at Poulton-le-Fylde on the EUS - BPN service. I suspect the platform length will be an issue

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Will the 7 car 80x call at Poulton-le-Fylde on the EUS - BPN service. I suspect the platform length will be an issue

A quick line on google maps puts the length of the track at the Blackpool bound platform at ~168m, which is shorter than the 807's 182m (26m*7)
So indeed it will not fit, probably gonna be an 805s job then?

 

[Bletchleyite]

A quick line on google maps puts the length of the track at the Blackpool bound platform at ~168m, which is shorter than the 807's 182m (26m*7)
So indeed it will not fit, probably gonna be an 805s job then?

I would be astonished if they were not SDO fitted.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

A quick line on google maps puts the length of the track at the Blackpool bound platform at ~168m, which is shorter than the 807's 182m (26m*7)
So indeed it will not fit, probably gonna be an 805s job then?

SDO/ASDO exists... although a quick look at RTT shows that the EUS - BPN services don't stop there? Although I may be wrong.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

SDO/ASDO exists... although a quick look at RTT shows that the EUS - BPN services don't stop there? Although I may be wrong.

Only Voyagers have stopped at the intermediate stations between Preston and Blackpool.
Avanti may use 805s on the Voyager runs, especially if they combine units at Crewe with North Wales services as they used to.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

SDO/ASDO exists... although a quick look at RTT shows that the EUS - BPN services don't stop there? Although I may be wrong.

I didn't know if they'd have that because I've never noticed a too short Avanti platform
There's a once a day morning service (Weekdays only) to London that's currently run by a Voyager

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Only Voyagers have stopped at the intermediate stations between Preston and Blackpool.
Avanti may use 805s on the Voyager runs, especially if they combine units at Crewe with North Wales services as they used to.

Thanks for clarifying.

I didn't know if they'd have that because I've never noticed a too short Avanti platform
There's a once a day morning service (Weekdays only) to London that's currently run by a Voyager

Seeing as most new stock comes with it as standard, I don't see why it wouldn't have it... I reckon 805s will be needed more for North Wales if Avanti can pull their act together.

 

[Halish Railway]

I didn't know if they'd have that because I've never noticed a too short Avanti platform

Haymarket doesn’t fit an 11-carriage Pendelino, it may be able to fit a 9-carriage set.

Seeing as most new stock comes with it as standard, I don't see why it wouldn't have it... I reckon 805s will be needed more for North Wales if Avanti can pull their act together.

I think it’s just the first Avanti service from Blackpool of the day that may be an 805, combining at Crewe with a service from Wrexham. Once at Euston the 10-carriage set can then work to and from Holyhead.

 

[The Planner]

Realtime Trains | 0Z70 0855 Old Dalby to Oxley Car. M.D. | 30/01/2023

Real-time train running information for 0Z70 0855 departure from Old Dalby to Oxley Car. M.D. on 30/01/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Also says
Diesel locomotive
Planned for 75mph max
Not very fitting for a 125mph capable train on its own power.

Its an ECS move to a depot. No one here is going to spend the time creating a bespoke set of running times for it.

 

[HammerDown154]

Thanks for the answers re Poulton-le-Fylde. As far as I know it was only ever the 5 car Voyager set that stopped at PLF either to/from EUS. I was just hoping that with the introduction of the 80x that PLF may feature again.

 

[Huntergreed]

Have to admit I’m quite disappointed at how bland it looks, but unsurprised.

Every intercity train in the UK now just looks the same (bar the 390!) - This is just another bland, vanilla train which has slightly different seats. All character is being removed from the railway.

 

[william.martin]

Have to admit I’m quite disappointed at how bland it looks, but unsurprised.

Every intercity train in the UK now just looks the same (bar the 390!) - This is just another bland, vanilla train which has slightly different seats. All character is being removed from the railway.

Yep, the west coast mainline and the mainline to Norwich seems to be the only core route without an 80x.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Have to admit I’m quite disappointed at how bland it looks, but unsurprised.

Every intercity train in the UK now just looks the same (bar the 390!) - This is just another bland, vanilla train which has slightly different seats. All character is being removed from the railway.

Surely it just looks like a 390 with bigger windows?

Those seats are great, though. It could be pink with yellow polkadots and I'd still like them. In particular the legroom on Pendolinos is now excellent, shows how inefficient the old ones were.

 

[Huntergreed]

Surely it just looks like a 390 with bigger windows?

Those seats are great, though. It could be pink with yellow polkadots and I'd still like them. In particular the legroom on Pendolinos is now excellent, shows how inefficient the old ones were.

I just see it more as an 80x with different seats I’m afraid.

I agree the seats are much better and very comfortable, but aside from that, the colouration and interior is very bland. Same as LNER, GWR, TPE, Lumo and Hull Trains, just with nicer green seats.

 

[Some guy]

Thanks for the answers re Poulton-le-Fylde. As far as I know it was only ever the 5 car Voyager set that stopped at PLF either to/from EUS. I was just hoping that with the introduction of the 80x that PLF may feature again.

I remember the 16:33 Euston to Blackpool north used to always stop at Kirkham and poulton it’s strange that the now 17:07 doesn’t as that’s booked a 5 car voyager. The 805s should definitely stop there eventually

 

[childwallblues]

Do any AWC trains currently stop at Hartford?

 

[paddyb6]

Is there any news on today's run of 805001 and 805003? Cheers

 

[Ken Bromage]

Is there any news on today's run of 805001 and 805003?

RTT says left Loughborough

Realtime Trains | 5Q66 1027 Loughborough Brush to Oxley Car. M.D. | 30/01/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q66 1027 departure from Loughborough Brush to Oxley Car. M.D. on 30/01/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk