THE first five-car bi-mode Class 800/2 IET set destined for use by Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) was unloaded at Teesport on March 20 after a long journey from Japan.
The set was built at Hitachi’s Kasado works and will be used for driver training and training of on-board staff.
Along with all-electric Class 801 IET five- and nine-car trains, VTEC aims to introduce the new trains from November, with a target of 10 Class 800/801 sets in traffic by March 2019.
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Testing of IET trains continues on the East Coast Main Line, generally from Doncaster depot, including sets eventually destined for the Great Western.
■ GWR is planning to introduce its Class 802 bi-mode trains from July 16. Two HST diagrams will be replaced by two pairs of five-car Hitachi trains on London to the West Country services.
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