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Hornby R40504

LNER - MK4 DVT - 82225

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 11 (2016 to 2026) The Last Days of Privatisation

Manufacturer description

Following on from the Mk3 coach, the Mk4s were built between 1989 and 1992 at Metro-Cammell’s Washwood Heath facility for the newly-electrified InterCity 225 services on the East Coast Main Line.

A total of 282 carriages were built, to maintain a fleet of 30 fixed formations. Each one comprised of nine vehicles, operating with a Class 91 locomotive and a Driving Van Trailer on the other end to allow trains to operate in both directions without needing to turn the locomotive.

The Mk4 is an all-steel design which incorporates a number of improvements over the previous Mk3s. Most notably, the inclusion of automatic push-button operated plug-type doors in place of the manually operated slam doors. The body shells, which were built by BREL and Breda in Milan, also have fully sealed gangways and controlled emission toilets (CETs).

The coaches were used by successive ECML train operators that followed on from BR InterCity, including GNER, East Coast, and LNER, though they were largely replaced with the arrival of the first Class 801 ‘Azumas’ from 2019/20, with large numbers going to scrap. Following refurbishment, 12 Mk4s were acquired by Transport for Wales for its Holyhead-Cardiff ‘premier’ service, and these were joined by further examples that had been refurbished for a planned London Euston-Blackpool service by Grand Central that never materialised, bringing the TFW fleet up to 37 vehicles.

This highly detailed OO gauge model coach is based on ‘DVT’, a Driving Van Trailer which allows the train to be driven from the opposite end to the locomotive. It has a full-width cab and a luggage compartment, including space for bicycles, and a train manager’s office.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Hornby LNER MK4 DVT – 82225 is an OO gauge model of the Driving Van Trailer used on InterCity 225 services on the East Coast Main Line. The model is supplied with Hornby part number R40504 and represents the full‑width cab, luggage compartment (including space for bicycles) and the train manager’s office that are featured on the real vehicle.

The original Mk4 DVTs were built between 1989 and 1992 at Metro‑Cammell’s Washwood Heath works. A total of 282 Mk4 carriages were produced to form 30 fixed nine‑vehicle trains, each coupled to a Class 91 locomotive and a DVT at the opposite end to allow bi‑directional operation without turning the locomotive. The design is all‑steel, with automatic plug‑type doors, fully sealed gangways and controlled emission toilets; body shells were manufactured by BREL and Breda in Milan.

Mk4 coaches entered service with BR InterCity and later with GNER, East Coast and LNER, but many were withdrawn when Class 801 ‘Azuma’ units were introduced in 2019/20. Following refurbishment, twelve Mk4s were taken by Transport for Wales for the Holyhead‑Cardiff premier service and a further twenty‑five were added from a Grand Central project that did not proceed, bringing the Welsh fleet to thirty‑seven vehicles. The Hornby model replicates these features in highly detailed OO gauge format.