The gift that keeps on giving

IT is another remarkable month for HSTs, which continue to grab the headlines in nothing but a good way. East Midlands Railway plans to end its use of the iconic trains in May (which means there should be a small window to sample them one last time on the Midland Main Line if we follow the Government’s timetable for coming out of lockdown). But to mark their passing on the MML, and as our cover image shows, celebrity power car No. 43102 has been repainted into InterCity Swallow livery – as worn in 1987 when it and No. 43159 set the world speed record for diesel traction of 148.5mph. After it retires from service, the power car will head to the NRM in York to be displayed with first production power car No. 43002 and prototype No. 41001. Another unofficial record has been set by the 125 Group’s main-line certified power cars, which are understood to have reached 125mph while on a recent stock move, making them the fastest preserved traction in Britain. Meanwhile Rail Charter Services has announced its ‘Staycation Express’ will return this year, offering trips over the Settle & Carlisle Line using a specially-liveried HST set, which will write a new chapter in the history of the fleet. And elsewhere ScotRail is now lengthening its ‘Inter7City’ sets from four to five coaches, a pair of ex-LNER/EMR power cars have moved over to join the NMT fleet, and a further batch of off-lease power cars is set for a yet-to-be-revealed use that could possibly include stock moves around the country. Watch this space for more!

RESERVE A COPY

If you are having trouble getting hold of a copy of Rail Express through lockdown, we have launched a new service to order a single copy in advance so that it is delivered to your door as soon as it is published and, of course, longer term subscriptions of six months or more are also still available. For more details, please see www.classicmagazines.co.uk/issue/RE.