More HST Mk 3s taken for scrap

Almost 300 High Speed Train Mk 3s have been scrapped since replacement Hitachi Class 800802s were introduced by Great Western Railway and LNER.

And cascades within operators have enabled East Midlands Railway to also dispense with its original HST fleet.

Some 296 Mk 3s have been scrapped, while a further 42 have so far been put to new uses, including as static restaurants and training vehicles. Others have been preserved or have a future on the main line with Locomotive Services Limited.

Three operators - ScotRail, CrossCountry and GWR - have 213 modified Mk 3s between them that will remain in traffic for several years.

The latest Mk 3s to arrive at Sims Metals at Newport Docks on March 4 were former LNER Trailer Standards (TS) that had been stored at Potter Group, Ely (42158, 42215/226/235/241/

244, 42323/340).

Three days earlier, Sims at

Newport Docks had received former EMR stock, when Trailer Kitchen Buffet First (TFKB) 40753, Trailer First (TF) 41071/072, TS 42139-141, 42329 and Trailer Guard’s Standard (TGS) 44048 were hauled from store at Gascoigne Wood.

And on February 22, Sims had taken delivery of former EMR TFKB 40749, TF 41061/064/077, TS 42121/151/164/165 and TGS 44054.

Ex-LNER TS 42104/122/161/ 171/172, 42219, TGS 44031/

056 were taken from Potter Group, Ely, to Newport Docks for scrapping on February 18.

The moves mean that as of March 8, 154 former HST Mk 3s remain in store at various locations. During May, these will be joined by current EMR stock.

Meanwhile, 65 HST Class 43s were stored on March 8 (of the 191 power cars in use with train operating companies at the start of 2017, the year Class 800s entered traffic). So far, none has been scrapped.