British Rail Class 810

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

British Rail Class 810 Aurora
East Midlands Railway Class 810 on test at Kilby Bridge
In service3 December 2025–present [1]
ManufacturerHitachi Rail
Built at
Family nameA-train
ReplacedClass 222
Constructed2021–present[2]
Number under construction33
Formation
  • 5 cars per unit:
  • DPTS-MS-TS-MC-DPTF[3]
Fleet numbers810001–810033
Capacity
  • 301 seats[3]
  • (47 first class, 254 standard)
OwnersRock Rail
OperatorsEast Midlands Railway
DepotsDerby Etches Park[2]
Lines servedMidland Main Line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium[2]
Car length24 m (78 ft 9 in)[4]
Maximum speed125 mph (200 km/h)[5]
Prime mover(s)4 × MTU turbo-diesel[4]
Power output735 kW (986 hp) per engine, 2,940 kW (3,940 hp) in total[4]
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collectionPantograph
UIC classification
  • 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′[6]
Safety system(s)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 810 Aurora is a type of bi-mode multiple unit being constructed by Hitachi Rail for East Midlands Railway (EMR). Based on the Hitachi AT300 design, 33 five-car units will replace Class 222 units on EMR's intercity routes following their entry into service in December 2025.

Background

[edit]

In July 2012, it was announced by Network Rail that the Midland Main Line (MML) would be electrified north of Bedford, allowing the diesel trains currently used on the route by to be replaced with new electric trains.[8][9] However, electrification was 'paused' by Network Rail in June 2015,[10] and then cancelled in July 2017 by then-Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, who made the decision to use bi-mode trains on the MML instead.[11]

In August 2019, East Midlands Railway placed a £400 million order for 33 five-car bi-mode units, to replace its Class 180 and 222 fleets on the MML.[12][13][14][11][note 1] The purchase is being funded by Rock Rail East Midlands.[11] It was originally planned that the new trains would enter service before December 2022;[16][17][18] following multiple delays,[7][19] the fleet was planned to enter service in early 2025, but this did not happen.[20]

In October 2020, following a public competition,[21] EMR announced the Class 810 units would be branded as Aurora.[22]

In June 2025, having missed the May 2025 timetable change, EMR confirmed that the units would be introduced in "a phased roll-out during 2026"[23] to allow for completion of testing and validation during summer 2025, followed by acceptance and training of drivers and train crew. On 8 August 2025, the first unit was accepted into their fleet following the completion of testing.[24]

On 10 November 2025, EMR confirmed that the first units would enter service in time for the December 2025 timetable change,[1] and the fleet was officially launched on 20 November at a press event at Etches Park depot in Derby.[25]

On 3 December 2025, the first train formed the 07:00 service from Sheffield to London St Pancras.[26]

Design

[edit]
East Midlands Railway Class 810 undergoing testing at Newark Northgate

The Class 810 is a modification of the Class 802 units Hitachi have delivered to a number of British train operators.[27] The major change is a 2-metre (6 ft 7 in) reduction in the length of each vehicle, which is required in order to allow paired (ten-car) Class 810 trains to use London St Pancras station.[4] Some of the length reduction has been achieved by reprofiling the front end of the train and shortening the nose cone.[3]

Compared to Class 802 units, the 810s are fitted with an additional diesel power pack—for a total of four—and each engine is uprated from 700 to 735 kW (939 to 986 hp). Both of these changes are intended to satisfy the franchise requirement that the new trains equal or exceed the performance of the current Class 222 units.[3] The power packs are installed under the first, second, fourth, and fifth vehicles, while the third (centre) vehicle carries the high-voltage transformer. A total of eight 290 kW (390 hp) traction motors are fitted to four bogies on the second and fourth cars.[28][4]

Interior

[edit]

In response to customer feedback regarding seating comfort on earlier Class 80x units, both first- and standard-class seats on the Class 810 are of a unique design that is intended to offer enhanced comfort. They are based on the existing FISA Lean design, but of an altered appearance. EMR worked closely with Derby-based design company DGDESIGN on the design of the new interiors.[29] It is claimed that the seats have wider cushions, more-sculpted headrests, softer and deeper armrests, additional privacy screening, and be upholstered in a wool-rich moquette that is intended to be easier to keep clean. Every passenger has access to power sockets and USB charging points, at-seat coat hooks, and storage space under each seat.[30][31]

Fleet details

[edit]
Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos.
810 East Midlands Railway 33 2021–present[2] 5 810001–810033

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The Class 810 fleet did not directly replace the Class 180 units, as EMR withdrew them at the May 2023 timetable change, earlier than originally expected.[15]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 810.
  1. ^ a b "Much-delayed Class 810 fleet enters service on the Midland Main Line". Railway Gazette International. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Holden, Michael (22 April 2021). "East Midlands Railway releases new video as welding begins on new Aurora trains". RailAdvent. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Enter the Aurora". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "EMR unveils Aurora bi-mode details". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Speed limiters for Hitachi fleets". Traction & Stock. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 168, no. 1457. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. August 2022. p. 92. ISSN 0033-8923.
  6. ^ Pritchard, Robert (March 2021). "Designing the Auroras". Today's Railways UK. No. 229. Platform 5.
  7. ^ a b Sherratt, Philip (25 June 2020). "ETCS for EMR bi-modes". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. ISSN 0026-8356. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Midlands line 'to be electrified'". BBC News. BBC. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Network Rail to spend £500m electrifying Midland Mainline". BBC News. BBC. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Electrification of Midland Mainline 'paused' by Network Rail". BBC News. BBC. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Clinnick, Richard (25 January 2021). "MML electrification can be enabled by Class 810s". Rail Magazine. Bauer Media Group. ISSN 0953-4563. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  12. ^ "AT300 - Intercity High Speed". www.hitachirail-eu.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  13. ^ "In Brief". Railways Illustrated. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. April 2020. p. 19. ISSN 1479-2230.
  14. ^ "EMR welcomes first LNER HST into passenger service". Rail Magazine. No. 905. Bauer Media Group. 20 May 2020. p. 25. ISSN 0953-4563.
  15. ^ "EMR confirms withdrawal of Class 180s". Modern Railways. No. 895. Stamford: Key Publishing. March 2023. p. 11. ISSN 0026-8356.
  16. ^ "Abellio invests £400 million in new Hitachi trains for East Midlands Railway". Global Railway Review. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  17. ^ Clinnick, Richard. "Hitachi wins £400 million deal for East Midlands Railway bi-mode fleet". Rail Magazine. Bauer Media Group. ISSN 0953-4563. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  18. ^ Clinnick, Richard (8 April 2020). "Class 810 bi-modes". Rail. No. 902. Peterborough: Bauer Media Group. p. 27. ISSN 0953-4563.
  19. ^ "EMR to lose Class 180 fleet". Rail Express. No. 322. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. March 2023. p. 11. ISSN 1362-234X.
  20. ^ "East Midlands Railway reveals the interior looks of its new Aurora train fleet". News. Railways Illustrated. No. 254. April 2024. p. 7.
  21. ^ "Name our train". East Midlands Railway. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Aurora brand for East Midlands Railway Class 810 inter-city fleet". Rail Business UK. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Passengers face further wait for new trains". BBC News. BBC. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  24. ^ Wilcock, Rich. "EMR accepts first Class 810 into its fleet ahead of rollout". Rail Magazine. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  25. ^ Stubbings, David. "East Midlands Railway finally launches '810' fleet six years after order placed". Rail Magazine. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  26. ^ "EMR's Class 810s FINALLY enter service three years late". Modern Railways. 22 April 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  27. ^ "Abellio orders East Midlands inter-city fleet". Rail Business UK. DVV Media Group. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  28. ^ Stanton, Peter (13 February 2025). "Aurora - A new dawn for the East Midlands". Rail Engineer. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  29. ^ "East Midlands Railway". DG Design. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  30. ^ "East Midlands Railways unveils newly designed seats for state-of-the-art Aurora fleet". East Midlands Railway. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Sampling the new seats for EMR's Aurora bi-modes". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. ISSN 0026-8356. Retrieved 2 March 2022.