The first of a fleet of state-of-the-art new trains which will transform rail travel in the south-west and Wales was unveiled on 30 June 2016. Great Western Railway (GWR) introduced the new train by running a special service to celebrate 175 years of the opening of the Great Western Main Line.
The Class 800 train is designed and built by Hitachi for the government’s InterCity Express Programme.
The new trains will be manufactured in Britain and will include more seats, greater legroom, free Wi-Fi, power sockets at each seat, LCD seat reservation indicators and increased space in overhead luggage racks.
The new fleet is being introduced as part of the biggest investment on this railway since Brunel, including electrification of the line.
The trains, which are currently undergoing testing, will start to be introduced into passenger service from next summer on the Great Western Main Line. The 57 trains are expected to operate on services between London and Reading, Oxford, Swindon, Bath, Bristol and South Wales as well as north and south Cotswold lines.
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