British Rail Class 803
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| British Rail Class 803 | |
|---|---|
 Lumo Class 803 at Edinburgh Waverley | |
 Interior of a Class 803 unit | |
| In service | 25 October 2021 – present |
| Manufacturer | Hitachi Rail |
| Built at |
|
| Family name | A-train |
| Constructed | 2020–2021 |
| Number built | 5 |
| Formation | 5 cars per unit: DPTS-MS-MS-MS-DPTS |
| Fleet numbers | 803001–803005 |
| Capacity | 402 seats |
| Operators | Lumo |
| Depots | Craigentinny (Edinburgh) |
| Lines served | East Coast Main Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Doors |
|
| Maximum speed | 125 mph (200 km/h) |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic (disc) and regenerative |
| Safety system(s) | |
| Multiple working | Within class |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 803 AT300 is a type of electric multiple unit built by Japanese rolling stock manufacturer Hitachi Rail for open-access operator Lumo. Based on the Hitachi A-train design, a total of five units, each comprising five cars, have been produced. The class is used to operate passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley.
Background
In 2015, following an announcement from the Office of Rail and Road that it would be allowing open-access operators to bid for additional rail paths on the East Coast Main Line, FirstGroup submitted a proposal to operate services between London and Edinburgh. Under its plan, First would seek to directly compete with existing road, rail and air services by offering all standard class seating with an average ticket price of approximately £25. The proposal for the new service was approved in May 2016.
In March 2019, First announced that it had signed an agreement with Hitachi to procure a total of five new five-car trains from its A-train product line for its new service. The units are financed by Beacon Rail with a ten-year maintenance contract. The first body shell arrived at Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe Manufacturing Facility in April 2020.
The first test runs on the national network were held on 26 May 2021, with the class entering public service on Lumo's launch day of 25 October 2021.
Design
While sharing a bodyshell with the previous UK A-train variants, the Class 803 differs in that it has no diesel engines fitted. They are fitted with batteries to enable the train's on-board services to be maintained, in case the primary electrical supplies have failed. Other changes include seating being standard class only, and the lack of a galley area, although catering services are provided through the use of a trolley service. The units also feature air conditioning, power sockets and free Wi-Fi.
Fleet details
| Subclass | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 803/0 | Lumo | 5 | 2020–2021 | 5 | 803001–803005 |
Named units
| Unit number | Date | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 803004 | ??? | Whisky Express | |
| 803005 | 19 May 2023 | Proudly from Newcastle the home of Stephenson's Works bicentenary 1823–2023 |
Accidents and incidents
On 17 April 2022, a Class 803 passed through a set of points at Peterborough railway station at 75 mph (121 km/h) where there was a speed restriction of 25 mph (40 km/h). Some passengers were thrown from their seats and sustained minor injuries. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch opened an investigation into the incident.
| British Rail Class 803 | |
|---|---|
Lumo Class 803 at Edinburgh Waverley | |
Interior of a Class 803 unit | |
| In service | 25 October 2021 – present |
| Manufacturer | Hitachi Rail |
| Built at |
|
| Family name | A-train |
| Constructed | 2020–2021 |
| Number built | 5 |
| Formation | 5 cars per unit: DPTS-MS-MS-MS-DPTS |
| Fleet numbers | 803001–803005 |
| Capacity | 402 seats |
| Operators | Lumo |
| Depots | Craigentinny (Edinburgh) |
| Lines served | East Coast Main Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Doors |
|
| Maximum speed | 125 mph (200 km/h) |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic (disc) and regenerative |
| Safety system(s) | |
| Multiple working | Within class |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Last updated 24 June 2025. All information and images sourced from the relevant Wikipedia article(s) unless stated otherwise. If any information is incorrect, please let us know by emailing us: [email protected]. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms apply.