Locomotive-hauled trains boost Bank Holiday capacity
CHILTERN Railways and East Midlands Trains operated additional locomotive-hauled trains using hired traction over the August Bank Holiday weekend, to provide extra capacity.
Class 47-hauled trains returned to the national network on August 26/27, when Chiltern Railways hired two locomotives to provide additional capacity. Meanwhile, EMT hired two GB Railfreight Class 66/7s to haul a train from Nottingham to Skegness and return on August 27.
With the West Coast Main Line closed from London Euston for engineering works in relation to HS2, Chiltern ran extra trains to provide more capacity between the capital and Birmingham. This was the first time Class 47s had been used to haul timetabled passenger trains since Caledonian Sleeper hired locomotives from Harry Needle Railroad Company between January and March 2016.
CR hired Rail Operations Group 47812 and 47813 to haul a rake of Riviera Trains Mk 2s. The ‘47s’ were used on the 0934 and 1734 Birmingham Moor Street-London Marylebone on August 26, returning on the 1253 and 2136 from London. The following day they worked the 0940 and 1540 from Birmingham Moor Street, and the 1300 and 2100 return. Overnight, the locomotives stabled at Tyseley.
On the London-bound trains, 47812 led the formation, with ROG-liveried 47813 hauling the returns. This was 47813’s first revenue outing since its owner applied the colour scheme.
Meanwhile, EMT hired 66707 Sir Sam Fay/Great Central Railway and 66763 Severn Valley Railway to haul the 0943 NottinghamSkegness and 1235 return, with Riviera Trains supplying a Mk 1 Generator Van to provide electric train supply.
These were the first locomotivehauled trains to operate timetabled service trains since EMT hired Class 47s from West Coast Railway in 2008. Regular LHCS to Skegness had finished in 1993.
They ran via Grantham (where the train reversed), which meant 66763 led the train from Nottingham, and from Skegness on the return, which did not run via Grantham.
The operator used the ‘66s’ with a rake of RT Mk 2s to provide extra capacity with diesel multiple units used elsewhere. EMT also used a High Speed Train on the Skegness branch over the weekend.