British Rail Class 800 facts for kids

A Class 800 being tested

The Class 800 is a modern, high-speed train built by a company called Hitachi. These trains are also known as Hitachi Super Express trains. They were designed to replace older trains like the InterCity 125 and InterCity 225 in the United Kingdom.

What makes the Class 800 special is that it can use both diesel fuel and electricity to run. This means it can travel on tracks that have electric power lines and also on tracks that don't. Another version, the Class 801, runs only on electricity.

Discovering the Class 800 Super Express

These impressive trains can reach speeds of up to 125 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour). This high speed helps to make journeys quicker. For example, travel times between major cities like London, Leeds, Newcastle, and Edinburgh can be cut by as much as 18 minutes.

Where Do These Trains Come From?

The first test version of the Hitachi Class 800 Super Express train arrived in the UK from Japan. However, most of these trains are built right in the UK. A new manufacturing plant was set up to produce 122 trains. This factory also created 730 new jobs for people.

When Did They Start Running?

The first Class 800 trains began carrying passengers in 2017. They started on the Great Western Railway main line, connecting London with the west of England and South Wales. In 2018, they also began running on the East Coast Main Line, which links London with the northeast of England and Scotland.

Images for kids

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  Class 800 of LNER (left) next to a InterCity 125 of CrossCountry (right) at Leeds.

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  GWR Class 800 (right) next to its predecessor InterCity 125 (left) at London Paddington

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  Class 800 pantograph in lowered position

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  "Captain Tom Moore" name applied to unit 800025

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  First Class interior mock-up in 2014

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  Standard Class interior in unit 800002 before receiving GWR colours.

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  The interior of First Class aboard a GWR Class 800

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  GWR Standard Class interior. This was the original seat cover which has since been changed on majority of the units.

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  The interior of First Class aboard a LNER Class 800

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  The interior of Standard Class aboard a LNER Class 800