LITTLE more than four years after their high-profile launch, Mk.5A coaches have been removed from passenger traffic by TransPennine Express.
The 13 rakes of five coaches, hauled by Class 68s, have been removed from traffic as TPE seeks to improve the reliability of its services (RE331).
December 9, was the final day of locomotive-hauled services, with No. 68030 Black Douglas rostered to haul set TP06 (Nos. 11506, 12716-718, 12806) on the final duties (see panel). As has been the case throughout their TPE career, more sets should have been in traffic that day, but instead their duties were covered by Class 185s.
The coaches will remain leased by TPE until May, at a cost of £19 million (331). Fourteen Class 68s were sub-leased from Direct Rail Services (Nos. 68019-032) with that deal also due to expire in May. A further two locomotives, Nos. 68033/034, were modified to operate
