In mid-2015, Great Western Railway said it had arranged to procure 173 new rail vehicles from Hitachi Rail, with options for another 150.
At the time, GWR was beginning the process of introducing a new fleet of intercity trains as part of the Government's Intercity Express Programme.
This project involved the procurement of both wholly electric units (Class 801), and "bi-mode" trains (Class 800), powered by electric traction motors capable of running from overhead electric wires or on-board diesel generators.
These trains were intended to replace the existing High Speed Trains following the electrification of the Great Western Main Line.
However, electrification will only go as far as Cardiff Central, with the route beyond requiring diesel traction (hence the need to procure trains capable of operating without overhead wires).

The purchase of 173 additional vehicles was with the intention that these new bi-mode trains, similar to the Class 800s, would be used on services into Devon and Cornwall.
These trains would consist of 22 five-car and 7 nine-car units.
The option for a further 150 vehicles would be formed into another 30 five-car units.

Initially, owing to Hitachi's facility at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham being at capacity, the intention was to construct the trains at the Kasado factory in Kudamatsu in Japan.
However, following Hitachi's purchase of the Italian train manufacturer AnsaldoBreda, construction was moved to Hitachi's Pistoia plant, with the first unit being completed in February 2018.

The trains were expected to enter service with GWR from 2018, with the aim of reducing journey times from London to Exeter by up to five minutes, to Plymouth by up to six minutes, and to Penzance by up to 14 minutes.
In mid-2015, Great Western Railway said it had arranged to procure 173 new rail vehicles from Hitachi Rail, with options for another 150. At the time, GWR was beginning the process of introducing a new fleet of intercity trains as part of the Government's Intercity Express Programme. This project involved the procurement of both wholly electric units (Class 801), and "bi-mode" trains (Class 800), powered by electric traction motors capable of running from overhead electric wires or on-board diesel generators. These trains were intended to replace the existing High Speed Trains following the electrification of the Great Western Main Line. However, electrification will only go as far as Cardiff Central, with the route beyond requiring diesel traction (hence the need to procure trains capable of operating without overhead wires).
The purchase of 173 additional vehicles was with the intention that these new bi-mode trains, similar to the Class 800s, would be used on services into Devon and Cornwall. These trains would consist of 22 five-car and 7 nine-car units. The option for a further 150 vehicles would be formed into another 30 five-car units.
Initially, owing to Hitachi's facility at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham being at capacity, the intention was to construct the trains at the Kasado factory in Kudamatsu in Japan. However, following Hitachi's purchase of the Italian train manufacturer AnsaldoBreda, construction was moved to Hitachi's Pistoia plant, with the first unit being completed in February 2018.
The trains were expected to enter service with GWR from 2018, with the aim of reducing journey times from London to Exeter by up to five minutes, to Plymouth by up to six minutes, and to Penzance by up to 14 minutes.
British Rail Class 802