Anglian ‘EACH Express’ raises £20,000 for charity
A charity charter train organised by Abellio Greater Anglia raised more than £20,000 for the East Anglia Children’s Hospice (EACH) on April 30.
Using Direct Rail Services Class 37/4s and Mk 2s that AGA hires from DRS for its local services, the ‘EACH Express’ ran from Norwich to Ely and back, before then running to London Liverpool Street and return. The usual formation of top and tailed ‘37s’ and three carriages was boosted by a fourth coach supplied by DRS.
AGA raised £14,000 through ticket sales, a further £6,000 from an auction for cab rides between Norwich and Ely, and more than £650 through an on-train raffle. All proceeds from the on-board trolley were also donated to charity, while staff who worked the train also donated their day’s wage.
The locomotives used were 37405 and 37419 Carl Haviland 1954-2013. These are two of the four AGA normally uses on the local trains.
The route chosen was selected because Class 37s are synonymous with the Anglian region and the routes they worked on when first introduced.
When used by AGA, the locomotive-hauled coaching stock is not able to operate between Norwich and Ely because of issues at stations. However, because the train did not stop between the
locations, this was not a problem. Likewise, the train did not stop between Norwich and London Liverpool Street. Class 37s last served the terminus in 1984, and since then have only hauled trains there for charters or test trains.
Usually AGA uses its Class 37/4s and Mk 2s on local services between Norwich and Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft on weekdays. There is an appetite to operate another charity tour, but this can only be operated outside the summer peak. It is also unlikely before the franchise change in October.