The Anonymous Widower

Thoughts On The Diesel Engines On Class 800/802 Trains

On my trip down to Devon yesterday, I remarked to the young lad, who I was sitting opposite that I couldn’t feel or hear the diesel engine under the floor of our car.

The Wikipedia entry for the Class 800 train, says this about which cars have a diesel orchestra under the floors.

The Class 800 and Class 802 bi-mode are equipped with three GUs per five-car set and five GUs per nine-car set; a five-car set has a GU situated under vehicles 2/3/4 and a nine-car set has a GU situated under vehicles 2/3/5/7/8. In comparison, the electric-orientated Class 801 features a single GU for a five- to nine-car set, which provides emergency power for limited traction and auxiliaries if the power supply from the overhead line fails. By adding or removing GUs, a Class 800 can be converted into a Class 801 and vice versa.

I believe we were in car 6 of a nine-car set, which would have explained the Silence of the Diesels.

Coming back, I was sitting in a car, which was labelled C, so as car 9 was leading, I must have been in Wikipedia’s car 7. So as it was quiet, was car 7’s diesel not being used?

But both trips indicated how quiet running will be, when batteries replace diesels.

What Is The Battery Range Of An Hitachi Intercity Tri-Mode Battery Train?

In The Data Sheet For Hitachi Battery Electric Trains, I came to these conclusions.

• The battery pack has a capacity of 750 kWh.
• A five-car train needs three battery-packs to travel 100 miles.
• A nine-car train needs five battery-packs to travel 100 miles.
• The maximum range of a five-car train with three batteries is 117 miles.
• The maximum range of a nine-car train with five batteries is 121 miles.

As battery technology gets better, these distances will increase.

Could Class 800/802 Trains Run Between Newbury And Exeter St. Davids?

Consider.

• Trains from London to the South-West switch to diesel power at Newbury, which is 53 miles from London.
• Exeter St. Davids is 173.4 miles from London.
• Newbury and Exeter St. Davids is 120.4 miles.
• Taunton station could be electrified for a Splash and Dash.

But it does appear that Exeter St. Davids can be reached by a battery-electric train from London.

Could Class 800/802 Trains Run Between Exeter St. Davids And Plymouth?

Consider.

• The maximum range of a five-car train with three batteries is 117 miles.
• The maximum range of a nine-car train with five batteries is 121 miles.
• All trains seem to wait for ten minutes at Plymouth.
• Plymouth station could be electrified for a Splash and Dash.
• Plymouth and Exeter St. Davids is only 52 miles.

Could Class 800/802 Trains Run Between Penzance And Plymouth?

Consider.

• The maximum range of a five-car train with three batteries is 117 miles.
• The maximum range of a nine-car train with five batteries is 121 miles.
• All trains seem to wait for ten minutes at Plymouth.
• Plymouth station could be electrified for a Splash and Dash.
• Penzance and Plymouth is only 79.5 miles.

It looks like trains can easily run between Penzance and Plymouth on battery-power.

Charging A Pair Of Trains

I believe platform lengths at Taunton, Exeter St. Davids, Plymouth and Penzance are all long enough to handle a pair of five-car Class 800 or Class 802 trains.

There could be separate circuits at each end of the platform so both trains could be quickly charged.

I doubt the Nimbys would object much to electrification in stations.

Conclusion

I’m fairly sure, that with short lengths of electrification at Taunton, Exeter St. Davids, Plymouth and Penzance, and batteries, that Class 800 and Class 802 trains can hop their way between Penzance and Newbury.

August 5, 2026 Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Battery-Electric Trains, Class 800 Train, Class 802 Train, Discontinuous Electrification, Electrification, Exeter St. Davids Station, Hitachi Intercity Battery Train, Newbury Station, Penzance Station, Plymouth Station | Leave a comment