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Virgin launches brand new train. Aims for 140mph running.

800101 at London King's Cross on March 18. JACK BOSKETT.

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.

Branson said that the trains would run at 140mph, but did not give a date when this would happen. Network Rail spokesman Toby Higgins told RAIL that that was subject to overhead line upgrades and the closure of level crossings. 

  • For more on this Azumas, read RAIL 797, published on March 30.

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  • Andrewjgwilt1989 - 26/03/2016 15:18

    Plus Hitachi's Class 801 and Class 802 IEP trains will also be built for VTEC along with GWR and Class 802 for Hull Trains. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_800 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_801 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_802

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