AWC introduced Evero EMUs as services to Liverpool increase

On 11 November 2024, Avanti West Coast’s 350 million GBP investment in its new Evero fleet reached an important milestone with their first run in service on the Liverpool to London route. Evero 807 001 departed Liverpool Lime Street at 09.01 h, returning later in the day, to supplement the current hourly service. These additional weekday departures are part of AWC’s plans to run more services between Liverpool and the capital.

As well as Liverpool, the new seven-car trains, each having 451 seats, will also run between London, the West Midlands and Blackpool, with further increases planned as part of next month’s timetable uplift. This follows the inaugural Class 807 passenger service between London and Birmingham last month, building on the successful launch of its Class 805 Evero stablemate, which recently celebrated 150 days in service on the West Midlands, Chester and North Wales routes.

Maintained at Alstom’s Midlands Traincare Facility Oxley depot in the West Midlands, the 23 strong Evero fleet includes the 10 seven-car Class 807 EMUs as well as the 13 five-car Class 805 EDMUs which are replacing the Voyager DMUs - offering a greener alternative. They will work alongside the Pendolinos, which have recently undergone the largest ever fleet upgrade in the UK thanks to a 117 million GBP investment. 

Built by Hitachi at its factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, the Evero fleet is quieter and roomier than its predecessor. Customer benefits include wireless charging for electrical devices, improved Wi-Fi, more seats than the trains they replace and greater legroom thanks to a more ergonomic design, larger luggage racks and more real-time customer information screens which are easier to read. The new trains also feature improved wheelchair spaces with contrasting carpet and a large accessibility symbol, so customers do not place their luggage in this space. There will be improvements to the accessible toilets compared to the previous fleet as well as Braille and large print labels on seats.

New Evero fleet was introduced in June 2024 and will replace Voyagers. Built by Hitachi, the fleet will serve routes from London to the Midlands, Chester, North Wales and the North West, leading to a substantial cut in carbon emissions. Avanti West Coast, operator of intercity rail services on the West Coast Main Line, is a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia.

We asked AWC: How many Class 807 EMUs have been delivered so far? When delivery of this batch is envisaged to be finished?
Answer: "We have accepted three 807s into the fleet so far, with a further seven to come. We expected a number of those to be here in the next month, with the remainder delivered in the early New Year."
 
How many Class 805 EDMUs have been delivered so far? When delivery of this batch is envisaged to be finished?
"We accepted our 12th 805 into the fleet a few weeks ago, leaving just one more to arrive. This has been delayed due to an incident with a deer whilst on a test run, and is expected to be with us around February 2025."

Was a coincidence that 807 001 ran the first Liverpool service? Or did you put 807 001 on purpose?
"Just a coincidence."

What does Evero actually stand for? 
"It’s a nod to EV (Electric Vehicle) and VERO (Italian for truth)."

Following its entry into regular scheduled service last week, AWC announced on 20 November that it is pleased to report no real issues with the two SX diagrams. The fleet of 3 x 807s will be supplemented later this week with the acceptance of 807 006 which is currently at Wembley. They will be joined by 807 002, which has just left Carlisle having departed Darlington earlier this morning bound for Wembley. As with previous moves it has travelled via Edinburgh under its own power. The two above join stablemates 807 001, 003 and 004. Five down, five to go. As things stand the next 807 arrival will be in early December.

807 006 was accepted into the fleet on 27 November, and in doing so became the fourth of ten to enter service. The current plan should see 807 002 join the fleet on 5 December, followed by 807 008 on 12 December.