Avanti West Coast
Observations of the new Class 805 units out on test have included Nos. 805008 and 805010 on Friday, April 5, working from Oxley Carriage Sidings-Rugby-Blackpool-Preston-Oxley, being seen heading south at Charnock Richard.
A further report on May 4 produced three of the Class on test runs: No. 805001 worked 5Q87/12.20 Euston to Preston; No. 805005 on 5Q70/13.03 Euston to Edge Hill; and No. 805012 worked 5Q87/14.38 Oxley to Crewe. Two days later, four units were on test with No. 805002 on a Crewe-Northampton-Preston-Northampton circuit; No. 805004 Holyhead-Crewe-Holyhead; No 805005 on Edge Hill-Euston-Northampton-Edge Hill; and No. 805009 Oxley-Crewe-Euston-Oxley.
Changes to the Voyager fleet have seen Nos. 221114/15/16 returned to Beacon Rail with a further two sets to join them in June as they are due to be transferred to CrossCountry.
Greater Anglia
While the Class 720 units have settled in well to traffic, a number are still awaiting delivery including No. 720519 which was taken from Derby to Wembley on April 9 by Class 47 No. 47749. This was followed by No. 720101 on the same diagram hauled by Class 69 No. 69011 on April 19.
ScotRail
Due to Storm Kathleen on April 7, Blanket Emergency Speed restrictions (BESRs) were implemented on numerous sections of the ScotRail network. Journey times for services on those routes were extended and services altered/cancelled.
Flooding between Polmont and Linlithgow caused issues for trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street, Edinburgh-Dunblane, and on the Glasgow Central-Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts route. Other routes with BESRs included the West Highland Lines, Glasgow Central to Largs and between Edinburgh and Tweedbank where planned cancellations saw the service reduced to hourly between Drem and North Berwick/Dunbar.
Cancellations occurred to services between Glasgow Queen Street and Falkirk Grahamston and Edinburgh and Dunblane after an object was caught on the overhead electric wires between Camelon and Larbert. Due to a tree falling onto the overhead lines between Bathgate and Armadale, the Helensburgh to Edinburgh via Bathgate services were terminated at Airdrie – while the Milngavie to Edinburgh via Bathgate services were terminated at Bathgate.
An isolation was obtained, and the object removed. It took quite a while for services to return to normal once the line was reopened. The speed restrictions on the West Highland Lines continued through Sunday.
Caledonian
The 19.50 Fort William to Euston on May 3 was hauled by former DRS loco No. 66303 to Edinburgh. Behind it was Class 73 No. 73968 providing heating and lighting, but not traction, as is now the rule when Class 66 power is involved. This is effectively the return of the ‘ETHEL’from the 1980s.
At Edinburgh the train was combined with the portions from Inverness and Aberdeen, then taken by Class 92 No. 92038 via the ECML and the North London Incline to Wembley Yard. As it was now facing north, No. 92010 was attached at the other end for the final leg to Euston.
Northern Rail
Following the derailment near Grange-over-Sands of Northern Class 195s Nos.195104+195133 on Friday, March 22 the units were returned to Preston via the Cumbrian Coast and Carlisle, a journey of over four hours as against a one-hour direct route from Barrow.
This was the first known appearance of a Class 195 north of Millom since June 16, 2020, when Nos. 195010+195018 made a return trip from Barrow to Maryport. Passenger services on the line between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness resumed on Monday, April 22 when Nos. 195101+195131 worked the 2C37/05.18 Preston to Barrow.
It is reported Network Rail engineers removed 300 tonnes of earth from the track at Frodingham, near Scunthorpe station, after trees fell on to the line on Wednesday, April 24. Services between Cleethorpes and Doncaster have now reopened after rail replacement buses were put in place. The cause is being investigated with prolonged heavy rain thought to be a factor. Ballast bags were also installed in the area
