The ‘Azuma’ Class 801/1 and 801/2 sets, were introduced on the East Coast Main Line between 2017 and 2020. They are a development of the Class 800 bi-mode trains in the Hitachi AT300 product range, produced at their Newton Aycliffe facility in the north-east, but unlike their bi-mode counterparts, the Class 801s are the purely electric version of the ‘Azuma’, although they are fitted with ‘emergency’ diesel engines to allow them to limp home in case of overhead power failure. 

The Class 801/2s are the full nine-car length trains, whereas the 801/1s operate as shorter five-car sets, often used in pairs. The first of the full-length Class 801/2s ran in November 2019, entering service on front-line London King’s Cross-Edinburgh trains, allowing the bi-mode Class 800/1s to be cascaded onto King’s Cross-Aberdeen services, which in turn replaced the remaining InterCity 125 sets on that route. There are currently 30 Class 801/2 sets in operation. Five of which are named, including Set No. 801207, which on 14 January was unveiled by LNER to mark the 200th Anniversary year of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. 

The power cars carry LNER, ‘Azuma’ and ‘Railway 200’ markings, with the legend ‘Darlington’ towards their front ends. The five-car pack includes powered PDTRBF (Pantograph Driving Trailer Restaurant Buffet First) and non-powered PDTS (Pantograph Driving Trailer Standard) cars, plus three matching coaches; two MS (Motor Standard) cars and a MF (Motor First) car. These can be made up to a full nine-car set by the addition of Coach Pack R40493.