British Rail Class 807

The British Rail Class 807 Evero is a type of electric multiple unit built by Hitachi Rail for train operator Avanti West Coast. Based on the Hitachi A-train design, a total of 10 seven-car units have been produced.

British Rail Class 807 Evero
Avanti West Coast Class 807 at Wolverhampton
Standard class interior of a Class 807 unit
Stock type	Electric multiple unit
In service	26 October 2024; 13 months ago (26 October 2024)[1]
Manufacturer	Hitachi Rail
Built at	Kasado Works, Kudamatsu, Japan[2] Newton Aycliffe Manufacturing Facility, England
Family name	A-train
Replaced	Class 221 (Avanti West Coast)
Constructed	2021–2025
Entered service	2024
Number built	10
Number in service	9
Formation	7 cars per unit - DPTS-MS-MS-TS-MS-MC-DPTF[3]
Fleet numbers	807001–807010[4]
Capacity	453 seats (49 first-class, 404 standard)[5][6]
Owners	Rock Rail West Coast
Operators	Avanti West Coast
Depots	Oxley (Wolverhampton)[5]
Lines served	West Coast Main Line Blackpool North Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium[2]
Train length	182 metres (597 ft)
Car length	26 m (85 ft 4 in)[7]
Maximum speed	125 mph (200 km/h)[8]
Power output	226 kW per motor
Electric system(s)	25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collection	Pantograph
UIC classification	2'2' + Bo'Bo' + Bo'Bo' + 2'2' + Bo'Bo' + Bo'Bo' + 2'2
Wheels driven	12
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

History

The First Class interior of a Class 807.

In December 2019, Avanti West Coast placed an order for 10 seven-car electric units which were to replace its Class 221 fleet, along with 13 Class 805 bi-mode units as part of £350 million contract with Hitachi Rail.^[9] All units were scheduled to be in service by 2023, but this was later pushed back to 2024. The first unit entered service in late 2024.^[10][11] The trains are financed by ROSCO Rock Rail West Coast, a joint venture between Rock Rail and Standard Life Aberdeen.^[12] The trains are maintained by a joint team of Alstom and Hitachi staff, alongside the Class 805, at Oxley depot near Wolverhampton.

Features promised include free Wi-Fi, at-seat wireless inductive charging for electronic devices, 230 V and USB sockets, a catering offer and a real-time passenger information system that can advise of connecting rail services.^[7]

Construction and entry to service

Construction of the Class 807 in the UK commenced on 7 July 2020. The aluminium shells arrived after being shipped from Hitachi's Kasado plant in Japan. Final production commenced at Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe facility. Out of the 135 bodyshells, 56 were manufactured in the UK.^[2]

Static testing began in June 2022. The trains were planned to enter service in 2023, but this did not occur.^[13] In the end, Avanti West Coast accepted the first two Class 807s in July 2024.^[14] The first train entered service on 26 October 2024 as a soft launch.^[1] Avanti West Coast first ran the Class 807s in passenger service between Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston in November 2024.^[15]

Fleet details

Class	Operator	Qty.	Year built	Cars per unit	Unit nos.
807	Avanti West Coast	10	2021–2025	7	807001–807010

Named trains

Class 807 units with special names or liveries

Unit number	Date	Name	Notes
807010	30 April 2025	Together We Roll	Created by digital artist, Baraka Carberry. Carries vinyls on all seven carriages for Avanti West Coast Diversity.[16]