UK: Last week, the first five-car Aurora train entered passenger service on the route between Sheffield and London.
The launch comes three years later than originally planned: the trains were initially expected to begin operation by the end of 2022, but the schedule was repeatedly pushed back due to the Covid-19 pandemic and technical issues with electrical components identified during testing.
The Aurora units, Class 810 in the UK, feature hybrid traction, combining power from overhead electrical lines with four 735 kW diesel engines. The trains are designed for a top speed of 200 km/h and offer 47 First Class and 254 Standard Class seats across five coaches.
Inside the hybrid Aurora from Hitachi Rail for EMR. Source: EMR
The fleet of 33 trains, worth around €456 mln, was ordered by East Midlands Railway in 2019. The aluminium-bodied units are being built at Hitachi Rail’s manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe. Under the delivery schedule, Hitachi Rail plans to supply two trains per month. As part of the contract, the company has invested approximately €125 mln into upgrading the site, including new paint facilities and welding lines.
