British Rail Class 800

The Class 800 Super Express is a type of electro-diesel train to be used in the United Kingdom, based on the Hitachi A-train design. They are to be built by Hitachi from 2015. The first units will be delivered for the Great Western Main Line (GWML), commencing service in 2017. These trains will be built at Hitachi's purpose built facility at Newton Aycliffe.

Background
As part of the UK Government's Intercity Express Programme, the Class 800 units are to be partial replacements for the ageing InterCity 125 trains which currently operate services on the Great Western Mainline and the East Coast Mainline. The Class 800 units will be electro-diesel multiple units, able to draw power from electrified overhead lines where available and power themselves via underfloor diesel generators outside of the electrified network. The train specification requires that this changeover can occur at line speed.

The trains will use a Hitachi European Train Control System, which was certified in 2014.