Aurora has been chosen by East Midlands Railway as the new name for their new Class 810 trains after a competition with nearly 2,000 entries ended.
The Aurora fleet of trains will provide fast and comfortable journeys between London St Pancras, Sheffield and Nottingham from 2023.
East Midlands Railway says that Aurora is the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn, which represents the new start of Aurora trains servicing East Midlands and South Yorkshire.
The name is also inspired by the Northern Lights, which is created by the transfer of the sun's solar energy, which EMR says matches the ability of Aurora trains to run under electric wires.
Aurora trains are being financed by Rock Rail East Midlands and are being built by Hitachi Rail in County Durham.
Construction should start later in 2020, with the first trains due to start testing in 2022.
Will Rogers, Managing Director at East Midlands Railway, said everyone at the company was delighted with the reaction of the public to the competition.
He said: “It's fantastic to see the level of excitement that surrounds the introduction of the Aurora fleet to the region. We love the winning name as it really fits the project and its aim to bring a new start for the Midland Main Line and our passengers.
“We know our passengers are looking forward to the introduction of the Aurora fleet and the modern, comfortable and greener journeys they will provide.”
Jim Brewin, UK Country Lead, Hitachi Rail, said: “It's fantastic to see such a high level of engagement in East Midlands Railway's competition to name the new fleet. The ‘Aurora' is a brilliant winning name, and well suited to the fleet that is being delivered – the latest model of our new intercity trains.
“The new trains will benefit 65 suppliers across the UK including a number in the East Midlands and will be built at our factory in County Durham, supporting hundreds of jobs in the region. We look forward to delivering the Aurora Fleet, providing fast, efficient and environmentally friendly journeys for its passengers.”
Mark Swindell, CEO Rock Rail and Director Rock Rail East Midlands, said “Rock is delighted that the new and aptly named Aurora fleet is set to transform the journeys for passengers along the routes between London, Sheffield and Nottingham.
“Together with our institutional investor partners, we are committed to supporting more sustainable travel and the Aurora's greener credentials will help the UK's drive towards reducing carbon and other harmful emissions.”
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Guess that Īsutomiddorando or Middorando isn’t the option but Aurora does sound like a nice name. Does it have any relations or connections to the East Midlands.
I think it’s a great name. Nice one EMR. Except that these will replace the Class 43 Mk3 HSTs and the Class 222 Meridian DEMU. And the Class 222s could go to CrossCountry or stored and converted into Hydrogen MUs.
Start testing in 2022. I think it would start doing test runs next year. As Hitachi who are manufacturing the Class 810 will also be manufacturing the Class 803 for East Coast Trains and to do test runs as well. And as well the Avanti West Coast Class 805 and Class 807. But Aurora is quite a nice name but does it have any connections to the East Midlands region or counties in the East Midlands (ie-Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Rutland or Lincolnshire).
It is also a name for the virus in Stephen King’s novel ‘Sleeping Beauties’!
I am sure that the new trains won’t put anyone to sleep though – looking good…
I Too, Previously had A Go at Thinking/Conjuring up an Idea for A Name, (or Nickname, Whichever) for these Modern Class 810 Passenger Unit Trains.
True Be Told, I Quite Forgot what I thoughfully suggested as A Name for these Marvellous Modern Trains.
However, Aurora, is A Great and Astounding Nickname for these Future Passenger Trains.
Wow… Not A Bad Name (for such Modern Newer Passenger Trains).
Aurora, is Quite An Astonishing Word, and also A Clever Nickname for these Future Modern Passenger Trains of whom shall (as was said so) be Roaming the Rails of the Modern Mainline Network en-route.
I Also like the Catchy Colourful Livery for the Modern Class 810 Units, Very Colourfully far out and ever outstanding through and through.