Although there were no direct passenger services from Scotland to the northwest of England on Saturday, August 20, due to the rail strikes, Avanti West Coast’s Class 390 No. 390001 ran ECS (5Z12/11.32) from Glasgow Central to Longsight depot, Manchester via Crewe.
On August 24, Avanti West Coast Class 390 No. 390138 ran ECS from Glasgow Central (0M07/07.33) to Preston from where the unit formed the 1M07/10.13 for London Euston.
On August 17, Class 745 No. 745008 worked the 12.00 Norwich to London Liverpool St. This was terminated at Ipswich due to flooding around Bentley crossing. Passengers then transferred to Class 321 Nos. 321305+321319 which formed the late running 12.42 to London, which then ran at 40mph to Manningtree. This train was terminated at Colchester ‘due to late running’ and subsequently went on to Colchester depot. A further change saw passengers then join Class 720 No. 720531 from Colchester to complete their journey to London. Two days later, the 17.00 Liverpool Street to Norwich was cancelled due to an issue with the set, so passengers were directed to the 17.30 formed of No. 745110.
Former Greater Anglia Class 321 units Nos. 321405+321445 were moved from Gascoigne Wood by Class 37 No. 37800 on August 25 on their final journey to CF Booth, Rotherham for disposal.
Movements of Class 720 units reported include No. 720512 taken from Derby to Wembley by Class 47 No. 47739 on August 26. On September 5, No. 720544 was top-and-tailed from Worksop to Derby by Class 47 Nos. 47727+47749. A further move on September 9 found No. 720109 being taken from Derby to Wembley by No. 47749.
The Renatus upgraded Class 321s are still currently working the hourly service on the Harwich-Manningtree branch line but in the coming months could be replaced by Class 720s. There are still three sidings full of Class 379s in Harwich Parkeston Quay yard but weekly, on a Wednesday, it appears that two units leave for Ilford as 5V13 at around 10.30 and are replaced by two back from Ilford as 5A32 arriving around 15.00.
On a recent visit to London by a correspondent (from Manningtree on August 18, a strike day), Class 379s were noted in Ilford depot and two sets of two in Aldersbrook carriage sidings, just south of Ilford station. That particular journey into the capital, aboard Stadler Flirt Class 745/1 No. 745001, lightly passenger loaded, and possibly unevenly distributed, was notable for its very unusual swaying movement over points and certain sections of the track that has previously not been experienced on a normal loaded Class 745 service.
On the return journey the following day, not a strike day, aboard the 16.30 out of Liverpool Street, surprisingly with the same Class 745, but now fully loaded, the experience of swaying was not repeated.
Routes via Perth were closed on September 8, following torrential rain which was causing flooding on the tracks at the entrance to Moncrieffe Tunnel just south of Perth.
A move from Laira to Wabtec occurred on August 24 involving Nos. 43285+ 44052+4 2380+42038+42036+42374+4 5005+41195+42377+43207.
Services between Lincoln Central and Retford were suspended at the start of service on Sunday, September 4 due to Matisa tamper No. DR75404 having been derailed at Stow Park.
Class 323
