By Tony Miles
THE first of 19 five-car Hitachi Class 802 bi-mode trains entered passenger service with TransPennine Express on September 28.
They had received clearance from ORR late the previous evening.
Set 802201 operated the 06.03 Newcastle-Liverpool Lime Street and 09.25 return as a one-off working ahead of regular service introduction later in October.
During the journey the unit worked under electric power both ways between Newcastle and York and Manchester Victoria and Liverpool, becoming the first TransPennine Express passenger train to run into Liverpool and over the Chat Moss route between Manchester and Liverpool.
It also became the first TPE service to operate at 125mph during the first leg between Newcastle and York.
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