British Rail Class 820
| British Rail Class 820 | |
|---|---|
 Concept art | |
| Stock type | Tri-Mode Multiple Unit |
| In service | 2028 (planned) |
| Manufacturer | Hitachi Rail |
| Built at | Newton Aycliffe Manufacturing Facility, England |
| Family name | AT300 |
| Replaced | Class 180 & Class 221 (future) |
| Number under construction | 9 |
| Formation | 5 cars per unit |
| Owner | Angel Trains |
| Operator | Grand Central |
| Specifications | |
| Electric system | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 820 is a type of tri-mode multiple unit belong to the Hitachi AT300 family of trains, which will be manufactured by Hitachi Rail for the open-access operator Grand Central. Based on the Hitachi A-train design, 9 five-car units will be built, powered by 25 kV AC 50 Hz electrification, as well as battery and diesel.
Design
The Class 820 is the first Hitachi AT300 train to be designed with battery power. The feasibility of this tri-mode arrangement was developed in 2024 through the modified repair of TransPennine Express unit 802207, which had been badly damaged in a 2022 depot collision. During the repair, one of its diesel generators was replaced by a battery.
The trial, which cost £17 million, was successful, and demonstrated the feasibility of a tri-mode AT300. This would allow trains leaving electrified track for shorter branch lines to run in a quieter and less polluting way.
Development
On 3 April 2025, Grand Central announced plans to order a fleet of nine new five-car tri-mode trains. The units are powered by 25 kV AC 50 Hz electrification, as well as battery and diesel power.
In March 2026, it was announced that Grand Central's new fleet will be known as the Class 820 under TOPS. The fleet will cost £300 million and is to be financed by Angel Trains, with the fleet being built by Hitachi Rail at its Newton Aycliffe Manufacturing Facility, at a cost of £300 million.
The first deliveries of the Class 820 are planned for 2028 and will replace Grand Central's Class 180 Adelante fleet. The new fleet is part of Grand Central's expansion to serve Cleethorpes and Seaham, as well as increasing its service to Bradford.
References
- 1 2 Roden, Andy (3 April 2025). "Arriva orders battery '80x' fleet for Grand Central". Modern Railways. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
- 1 2 Miles, Tony. "'UK-first' inter-city battery trial opens up options for new". Modern Railways. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
- 1 2 "Arriva orders battery-equipped electro-diesel trains for Grand Central". Rail Business UK. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2026.
- 1 2 "Intercity Battery Train Starts Testing in the North of England" (Press release). Hitachi Rail. 29 August 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Grand Central to receive new £300 million battery hybrid fleet". Grand Central. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 Pickering, Graeme (May 2025). "Grand Central orders new trains from Hitachi and aims to connect Newcastle and Brighton". Headline News. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 171, no. 1490. p. 9.
- 1 2 Stubbings, David (17 March 2026). "Grand Central tweaks Cleethorpes plan – confirms class number of tri-mode sets". Rail Magazine. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- 1 2 "Arriva orders battery '80x' fleet for Grand Central". Modern Railways. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2026.