Hornby R30449 Azuma Class 800 Hitachi IEP Set 800201 Train Pack

This newly tooled Class 800 Train Pack in the famous London North Eastern Railway (LNER) livery consists of a drive and dummy car, both with directional lighting. This makes the perfect modern-image passenger train that can be extended with the extra Class 800 coaches that are also available.

The Class 800 is a bi-mode multiple-unit train introduced to work alongside Hitachi’s all-electric Class 801 as part of the Government’s Intercity Express Programme (IEP). The first units in the UK were built at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory in 2014, using body shells shipped from the company’s Kasado Works in Japan.The trains first entered service on the GWR West of England Main Line in October 2017, with the LNER’s ‘Azuma’ trains starting on the East Coast Main Line in May 2019. The new trains were intended as replacements for the ageing InterCity 125 HSTs on both routes, along with the InterCity 225s on the East Coast.

Ten five-car and 13 nine-car sets have entered service with the LNER and are used on front-line express passenger services. Initially, these worked services to Leeds, Hull and Newark, but from 1st August 2019, the first Class 800 ‘Azumas’ worked the London King’s Cross – Edinburgh Waverley ‘Flying Scotsman’ services.

Technically, the Class 800 is a high-speed BMU – Bi-modal Multiple Unit. The traction system comprises electric motors that can draw power from overhead wires where available, or they can use electricity generated by on-board underfloor diesel generators when running beyond the current electrified network. The switch-over can be made at normal service speed so there is no interruption to service.LNER unveiled a special tartan vinyl on Unit 800104 to celebrate the launch of the ‘Azuma’ on the ‘Flying Scotsman’ service in August 2019. Since then, the same unit has been used to launch services beyond Edinburgh to reach Aberdeen and Inverness.Other notable ‘Azuma’ sets include sets 800106 ‘You Belong’ and 800111 ‘Thank You’, which were named in 2023 and 2024 respectively.