Vintage Trains Ltd runs its first official train

Britain’s newest train operating company (TOC) ran its first official train on September 27 - a mileage accumulation trip with a Vivarail Class 230 D-Train on the Bedford-Bletchley line.

Tyseley-based Vintage Trains Ltd (VTL) had been granted both passenger and non-passenger licences by the Office of Rail and Road earlier in the month.

VTL is expected to announce shortly its plan for the launch of steam charters - a key reason it was established as the ‘in-house’ operator for Vintage Trains, the promoter of tours using the Tyseley-based collection of steam locomotives ( RAIL 849). VTL has said it expects to run steam this year.

“The team was very proud to begin operations in a small and yet important way for our partner Vivarail so soon after our official launch as a TOC,” said VTL Operations and Safety Director Ian Lake.

“We are forging ahead with the planning of our steam-hauled services, but what better way to start our business than running one of the UK’s newest trains built to serve local communities and support the wider railway industry.”

VTL is a trading subsidiary of the Community Benefit Society Vintage Trains CBS, which is in turn a subsidiary of Vintage Trains Charitable Trust. Managing Director of VTL is Cath Bellamy - formerly MD of Chiltern Railways and Hull Trains.

Funding for the new TOC is being sought through a share issue. As of October 1, VTL had raised nearly £1 million towards an ultimate target of £3m. The share issue remains open until December 31.