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IN PICTURES: Virgin launches new Azuma Class 800.

Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) launched its Class 800 train at London King’s Cross on March 18, rebranding them as ‘Azuma’ – which translates as ‘East’ from Japanese.

They will enter traffic from 2018, with Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson calling them the UK’s most advanced long-distance train. 

  • For more on the Azuma launch, read RAIL 797, published on March 30.
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