British Rail Class 807
Hitachi electric train
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The British Rail Class 807 Evero is a type of electric multiple unit built by Hitachi Rail for train operator Avanti West Coast. Based on the Hitachi A-train design, a total of 10 seven-car units have been produced.
- Kasado Works, Kudamatsu, Japan[2]
- Newton Aycliffe Manufacturing Facility, England
| British Rail Class 807 Evero | |
|---|---|
Avanti West Coast Class 807 at Wolverhampton | |
 Standard class interior of a Class 807 unit | |
| Stock type | Electric multiple unit |
| In service | 26 October 2024[1] |
| Manufacturer | Hitachi Rail |
| Built at |
|
| Family name | A-train |
| Replaced | Class 221 (Avanti West Coast) |
| Constructed | 2021–2025 |
| Entered service | 2024 |
| Number built | 10 |
| Number in service | 9 |
| Formation | 7 cars per unit - DPTS-MS-MS-TS-MS-MC-DPTF[3] |
| Fleet numbers | 807001–807010[4] |
| Capacity | 453 seats (49 first-class, 404 standard)[5][6] |
| Owner | Rock Rail West Coast |
| Operator | Avanti West Coast |
| Depot | Oxley (Wolverhampton)[5] |
| Lines served | |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium[2] |
| Train length | 182 metres (597 ft) |
| Car length | 26 m (85 ft 4 in)[7] |
| Maximum speed | 125 mph (200 km/h)[8] |
| Power output | 226 kW per motor |
| Electric system | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| UIC classification | 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′ |
| Wheels driven | 32 out of 56 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
History
In December 2019, Avanti West Coast placed an order for 10 seven-car electric units which were to replace its Class 221 fleet, along with 13 Class 805 bi-mode units as part of £350 million contract with Hitachi Rail.[9] All units were scheduled to be in service by 2023, but this was later pushed back to 2024. The first unit entered service in late 2024.[10][11] The trains are financed by ROSCO Rock Rail West Coast, a joint venture between Rock Rail and Standard Life Aberdeen.[12] The trains are maintained by a joint team of Alstom and Hitachi staff, alongside the Class 805, at Oxley depot near Wolverhampton.
Features promised include free Wi-Fi, at-seat wireless inductive charging for electronic devices, 230 V and USB sockets, a catering offer and a real-time passenger information system that can advise of connecting rail services.[7]
Construction and entry to service
Construction of the Class 807 in the UK commenced on 7 July 2020. The aluminium shells arrived after being shipped from Hitachi's Kasado plant in Japan. Final production commenced at Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe facility. Out of the 135 bodyshells, 56 were manufactured in the UK.[2]
Static testing began in June 2022. The trains were planned to enter service in 2023, but this did not occur.[13] In the end, Avanti West Coast accepted the first two Class 807s in July 2024.[14] The first train entered service on 26 October 2024 as a soft launch.[1] Avanti West Coast first ran the Class 807s in passenger service between Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston in November 2024.[15]
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 807 | Avanti West Coast | 10 | 2021–2025 | 7 | 807001–807010 |
Named trains
| Unit number | Date | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 807010 | 30 April 2025 | Together We Roll | Created by digital artist, Baraka Carberry. Carries vinyls on all seven carriages for Avanti West Coast Diversity.[16] |
