Coaching Stock News
LNER repaints
All of the Mk.4s remaining in traffic with LNER have now received the Intercity-derived oxblood livery at Wabtec in Doncaster, with 67028 collecting the last full set on March 15 before returning it to Neville Hill. This set was NL12, which is formed of 10333, 11284/312/412, 12212/330/404/426/431 and 82212. The locomotive then returned to Doncaster, with maintenance spares 12214 and 82205, for their turn in the paintshop. The duo were released on March 29, with the same Class 67 taking them back to Leeds, the Driving Van Trailer having lost its unique ‘Flying Scotswoman’ livery as a result.
MK.5A duties to decrease on TPE
Booked locomotive-hauled trains operated by Transpennine Express will decrease from the new May timetable and will remain like that for at least a year.
Speaking to Railways Illustrated’s sister title Rail Express, TPE fleet director Paul Staples explained that there are currently six MK.5A sets booked for the northern route (via Huddersfield) and one on the southern route (via Sheffield). However, he said that will drop to four and one respectively from May. This was “in recognition of the operations issues we have got, and trying to balance the fact that we need to get the trains out regularly, but to be able to do that we need Class 68 competent drivers and that is a very, very delicate balancing act at the moment.”
This is also expected to help with driver training. The situation is set to remain like this until the May 2024 timetable change, when the number of trains required is expected to rise, with a further increase expected to follow in December 2024.
LSG developments
An eclectic selection of coaches belonging to Locomotive Services departed Eastleigh Works behind 20096 and 20107 on March 20, bound initially for Southall. This included Mk.1 RBR 1666, now repainted in BR blue/grey, along with similarly overhauled and repainted carmine and cream brake vehicles 17013 and 35479, the BSK having previously carried maroon. Recently repainted in Nanking blue, Mk.3 TGS 44081 also featured, as did TF 41108 following the fitting of retention tanks. Completing matters were Mk.2f lounge car 6708 from the Statesman set after attention and Mk.3 TF 41160, this still retaining the obsolete green and silver Rail Charter Services livery.
At Southall, 35479 was swapped for 35465, with the consist continuing on to Crewe. Also now in Locomotive Services ownership are Mk.3s 40221 and 41208, the duo arriving at Crewe by road from Ely Papworth on April 12.
Mk.1 movements
The 15-year residency of HST barrier coach 6399 at Neville Hill came to an end on March 28 with an evening transfer of the former Mk.1 BG to Worksop behind 37418. The following day saw the coach collected by road and taken to an undisclosed location in Scotland. Also on the move on March 29 was Mk.1 TSO 4927, the former Riviera vehicle, departing Burton for Williton and a contract overhaul at the West Somerset Railway for its new owner.
ERS to scrap Mk.3s
TWO Mk.3 Kitchen Buffet First (RFB) vehicles stored at Eastern Rail Services’ Vauxhall carriage sidings at Great Yarmouth are to be scrapped. Both coaches, 10212 and 10259, will leave the site by road, with their departures expected once ERS’S Mk.3 generator van 96371 returns from a hire contract with Caledonian Sleeper at Inverness.
Carnforth disposals
The scrapping of redundant stock on site at West Coast’s Carnforth depot continued throughout March, with Ron Hull disposing of a further diverse selection of coaches. This batch included Mk.1 BSK 34525, latterly support coach 99966, Mk.2b TSO 5463 and former Virgin Mk.2f duo 1258 and 6175. Also dealt with were Mk.1 BG 92159, courier vehicle 80212 and PCVS 94332 and 95300.