Avanti's brand new Class 805s are here: any good or another hopeless Hitachi?

On Sunday, 2 June, Avanti began introducing their latest trains into service: the Class 805.

These brand-new bi-mode trains are set to replace the aging Class 221 Super Voyagers, which have been serving the West Coast Main Line since their debut with Virgin Trains in the early 2000s.

Construction of the Class 805s kicked off in 2021. They are being built in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham and form part of the Hitachi AT300 family, joining the Class 800, 801, 802 and 803 trains which can be seen all across the UK.

The 80x series has faced mixed reviews, with the harsh lighting and uncomfortable seats often being complained about. Further to this, GWR, LNER and Hull Trains temporarily withdrew their Hitachi trains following the discovery of dangerous cracks near the wheels.

However, Hitachi have certainly stepped up their game with Avanti's new 805 stock.

The new Class 805 trains consist of five cars each, offering 276 Standard Class seats and 25 First Class seats. First Class passengers will get to enjoy the 2x1 seating arrangement, while Standard Class features a 2x2 layout.

Thankfully, these trains are not equipped with a horrible 3x2 layout, which is popular among commuter trains such as Greater Anglia's Class 720.

In First Class, there are wireless charging facilities on the tables, along with the usual shenanigans such as extra leg room, more comfortable seating and so on. In both classes, seats are equipped with a reading light and device charging, consisting of a plug socket and two USB-A ports per row.

One notable difference to the Pendolinos and Voyagers is that these new Class 805s do not tilt. This means their maximum speed is currently capped at 110mph on the WCML - despite being capable of 125mph.

Furthermore, the Class 805 trains boast an advanced Passenger Information System (PIS), which cycles through a live timetable, route map, CCTV footage and coach loading. And despite a slightly smaller onboard shop, passengers can still enjoy a range of refreshments and snacks.

In addition, accessibility is an important factor when designing new trains. Thankfully, accessible facilities including wheelchair spaces and a large toilet can be found at both ends of the train. Cyclists haven't been forgotten about either, with dedicated bike spaces available for reservation in advance.

There are 13 of these 805 units being introduced across Avanti's network along with 10 Class 807 (electric only) trains. They will be maintained at Oxley depot near Wolverhampton by a joint team of Alstom and Hitachi staff.

Our website is being updated to reflect the introduction of these new trains. We'll also keep you posted on the Class 807 units which are yet to enter service.

What do you think of Avanti's new units? Let us know in the comments!