125 Group doubles its quota of ex-EMR Mk 3s

Three former East Midlands Railway High Speed Train Mk 3 coaches have been delivered to the 125 Group and are currently based at UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester depot.

This takes the number of ex-EMR vehicles in the group’s fleet to six.

Moved south from Neville Hill on November 7 were Trailer First Restaurant Buffet (TRFB) 40730, Trailer First (TF) 41057 and Trailer Standard (TS) 42111. They will be joined in due course by TRFB 40741, TF 41067 and TS 42119 - the latter are currently in traffic but will be withdrawn by the end of the year.

The 125 Group has also taken delivery of its second power car, with former EMR 43048 moving from Long Marston to UKRL’s depot on November 17. It joins 43089, which has already been handed over to the group and used by Data Acquisition & Testing Services (DATS) on Midland Main Line electrification test trains.

Although they will retain main line certification, the plan is for the Mk 3s and two ‘43s’ to move to Ruddington on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham), where the group is based. Once there, they will join Trailer Guards Standard (TGS) 44000 as well as locomotive hauled Mk 3s that currently form part of the Group’s fleet.

Privately owned TS 42356, one of the prototype Mk 3s, will also join the fleet. This is currently being restored at Eastleigh Works.

PAUL BIGGS. East Midlands Railway 43423 Valenta1972-2010 leads the 1212 Neville Hill-Leicester empty stock move past Barrow-upon-Soar on November 7, taking three High Speed Train Mk 3s to their new owner (the 125 Group). On the rear is 43073.