page_title: Intercity Express Programme
section_title: Testing and introduction
hierarchical_section_title: Intercity Express Programme / History / Testing and introduction
caption_attribution_description: English: First pre-series Class 800 Hitachi InterCity Express Programme train undergoes dynamic testing
context_page_description: The Intercity Express Programme is an initiative of the Department for Transport in the United Kingdom to procure new trains to replace the InterCity 125 and InterCity 225 fleets on the East Coast Main Line and Great Western Main Line. These new trains would be built by Hitachi as part of their A-train family, classified as Class 800 electro-diesel units and Class 801 electric multiple units. Hitachi designated the units as the AT300 family, which is their Intercity High Speed fleet. Other AT300 units have also been ordered for other train operating companies, which are not part of the IEP.
context_section_description: The first train left the Kasado factory on 7 January 2015 for shipping via Kobe, and arrived at Southampton, England, on 11 March 2015. At a speech given to the welcoming committee, rail transport minister Claire Perry requested that a new name be found for the trains.
  After-delivery testing was scheduled to occur at Old Dalby Test Track. Testing of a Class 800 train (number 001) at the track took place in early 2015.
  In mid-2015, the RMT union voted for a 48-hour strike on First Great Western due a dispute over plans by FGW to operate the IEP sets without guards or buffet cars.
  In March 2016, the first unit for Virgin Trains East Coast was formally unveiled at King's Cross railway station, and named Virgin Azuma.
  In October 2017, the first train went into service on the Great Western Mainline. In May 2019, the first train entered service on the East Coast Mainline between London King's Cross and Leeds.
caption: Hitachi Class 800 undergoing dynamic testing at Old Dalby test track (April 2015)
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