MAY 15 was an historic day for state-backed train operator LNER, which introduced the new Hitachi Class 800 ‘Azuma’ on its first revenue-earning service from London King’s Cross to Leeds and Hull.

The previous day, LNER invited the railway press and other stakeholders on a trip
to Peterborough to sample the train (see also feature on p16). 

Eventually, LNER will be operating 65 ‘Azuma’ trains, some five-car, some nine, with Class 800s as bi-mode and Class 801 as electric only. 

Their introduction will lead to the retirement of Class 91 locos, along with Mk4 sets, as well as HST sets, on a rolling basis over the coming months.

From the one diagram beginning on May 16, LNER has announced its intentions to ramp up diagrams by the end of June to six. 

Read more in the June 2019 issue of The RM – on sale now!

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