Hornby R3908 TPE, Class 802/2 ‘Nova 1’ Train Pack – Era 11

The second operator of the Class 802 was TransPennine Express, their 802/2 5-car units referred to as ‘Nova 1’s as part of TransPennine’s unique branding of the Class 802s built by Hitachi and given also to Great Western Railway and Hull Trains. The reason given behind the moniker, ‘Nova’, was that it evoked the “positive changes and explosion of energy that will truly transform rail travel for customers and so, they are known as our Nova fleet.”

TPE ordered nineteen five car sets of the Class 802 bi-mode multiple units in March 2016, and they were procured through the leasing company Angel Trains. Hitachi’s plant in Japan started working on Nos. 802201 and 802202 in early 2018, with the first bodyshell arriving in the UK in June 2018. The rest of TPE’s fleet were built at Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe factory in County Durham. Testing of the first unit, No. 802201, began in September 2018 with trial runs from Hitachi’s Doncaster Carr depot. More trial runs took place on the East Coast Main Line to Darlington and then south to London King’s Cross.

With the units on test proving to be running fine, the first ‘Nova 1’ unit entered service in late 2019 with TPE operating the 802 on services between Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Scarborough, and Edinburgh. ‘Nova’ services on the West Coast Main Line started in December 2021, with four services operating per day between Manchester and Edinburgh (two in both directions).

These new ‘Nova’ units replaced a fleet of three car Siemens Class 185 DMUs and Class 350/4 EMUs. Compared to the old fleet where the Class 185 units contained only 181 seats, the ‘Nova 1’ offers an upgrade to 342 seats with 318 as Standard Class and 24 seats as First Class. There are five toilets on board with one universal access toilet, storage for up to four bicycles, free Wi-Fi, and power sockets for every pair of seats. An electronic seat reservations system is in place with green meaning a seat is free, yellow is a seat that’s partially reserved and red is a seat that has been fully reserved.

Taking inspiration from Japanese bullet train technology, the cab front features a sleek nose front to make the units light and aerodynamic. This aerodynamic shape enables the maximum speed to be up to 140mph in electric mode and 125mph in diesel mode. MTU engines were fitted to reduce harmful emissions to the environment. Trains can run in five or ten car formations for each service, and all are fitted with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).

This train pack features intricate detailing on the units such as the TPE ‘Nova 1’ branding with dynamic lines and the sleek nose front of the cab replicating the Japanese bullet train technology for aerodynamics. The models are DCC ready and available with a 21-Pin connection to enable digital control. A powerful 5 pole skew wound motor allows for smoother running around points and for greater traction.

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