First bi-modes for Virgin East Coast arrive in UK

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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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Vehicle No. 815201, one of the driving cars of set No. 800201, being unloaded at Teesport at the end of March. HITACHI

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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