Avanti West Coast
Services in and out of London Euston on February 11 were severely disrupted with cancellations in place as train crew and rolling stock were out of position due to a land slip between Rugby and Coventry – plus a broken rail. The 18.31 with No. 390124 departed Euston at 19.05 and by the time Crewe was reached the service was some 50 minutes behind schedule.
A signal failure between Lockerbie and Carlisle on Tuesday, February 13, meant that the Glasgow Central (1M20/20.06) to Birmingham, worked by Class 390 No. 390044, was held at Lockerbie and then Gretna Junction to arrive in Carlisle 176 minutes late at 00.20 in the early hours of the following morning; later the service was terminated at Preston. Northbound, the 9S67/17.46 from London Euston worked by No. 390002, was held at platform 3 at Carlisle until the line was clear and arrived in Glasgow 190 minutes behind schedule at 02.27.
On Friday, February 16, new Class 805 No. 805008, in Avanti livery, was seen alongside platform 15 at Euston. According to Realtime Trains it left Euston as empty stock 5Q84, at 12.05 to Crewe.
There were delays to down trains on the West Coast Main Line on Saturday, February 17, when the 4S43/06.40 Daventry IRFT (Victa) to Mossend Euroterminal, reportedly hauled by Class 88 No. 88010, had problems between Beattock North GSP and Beattock summit during heavy rain. The train was running nine minutes late passing Beattock and passed the summit some 64 minutes late.
The following trains, including 1S48/09.30 London Euston to Glasgow Central, lost 55 minutes waiting for the line to clear. The 9S54/08.40 London Euston to Edinburgh operated with No. 390001 was held at Lockerbie and left there some 52 minutes late. The 1S51/12.04 Preston to Glasgow Central was also held in the Lockerbie area and passed Thankerton approximately 40 minutes late. The 1S52/10.30 London Euston to Glasgow Central was held at Carlisle, passing Thankerton about 20 minutes down. The delays on the down impacted on up services as the 1M15/14.34 Glasgow to Euston was about 35 minutes late leaving Central.
Class 390 empty stock workings are not a regular operation. However, on Tuesday, February 27, No. 390136 ran from Polmadie Depot 5Z05/11.21 to London Euston. From there it ran (5Q23) to Wembley InterCity Depot.
Testing of new Class 805 units has increased in recent weeks, with four units reported out on March 5. No. 805004 was working Euston and Lancaster, and Euston and Preston. No. 805005 was on test between Euston and Crewe while No. 805006 was on similar moves. Finally, No. 805008 worked from Holyhead to Stafford and Crewe before returning to Holyhead.
LNER
Passengers on Monday, February 19, boarding the 07.52 Aberdeen-King’s Cross service from intermediate stations to Edinburgh, heard the recorded announcement that the train was bound‘for Peterborough’. There was no reason given for this, nor explanation offered as to how London-bound passengers might continue their journeys onward from Peterborough.
It was an enterprising member of catering staff in First Class who explained that engineering works during the previous weekend, Saturday and Sunday, February 17/18, had overrun, hence the short journey.
Great Western Railway
On Friday, February 16, GWR announced that battery train No. 230001 completed a 70-mile move from Long Marston to Reading Train Care Depot. Without publicity, it is reported, on Tuesday, February 27, that the unit, running under Rail Adventure’s operator licence, formed empty stock train 5Q23 from Reading Traincare Depot to West Ealing EMU Sidings. Test running on the Greenford Loop was expected in March.
Also on February 16, GWR chartered a train to explore the options for running, inspection saloon No. 999506, and at the rear Class 47 No. 47815 .The two locomotives were in BR two-tone green livery, which looked good with the maroon inspection saloon. After a few minutes, during which the passengers, including Mark Hopwood, Great Western managing director, were able to stretch their legs, the train left as the 2Z02/11.05 departure to North Pole International.
