HST stored
First rake of Great Western Railway High Speed Train Mk 3s sent for store at Ely following Class 800 introduction.
A RAKE of former Great Western Railway High Speed Train Mk 3s has moved for storage at Potters Group, Ely.
The set arrived at the Cambridgeshire facility on October 22, hauled by 43036 and 43134, which the following day left for Wabtec Rail’s Brush Traction Loughborough facility, where they are undergoing overhaul ahead of their introduction with ScotRail.
The carriages moved to Ely for store are Trailer Buffet First (TFB) 40205/221, Trailer First (TF) 41052, Trailer Standard (TS) 42056/076078, 42564 and Trailer Guard’s Standard (TGS) 44018. This was previously LA04, which are lowdensity vehicles.
The TF is fitted with an accessible toilet, while 42564 was converted from a TF in 2014 to boost capacity on the GWR HST fleet. One coach from this set has moved to Doncaster for refurbishment for ScotRail. Also in that set was Trailer Kitchen Buffet First (TFKB) 40757, which has been retained by GWR. The two TFBs were from LA72 and LA74 respectively.
Following the introduction of Intercity Express Programme Class 800s with GWR ( RAIL 838), more HST coaches are being sent off- lease by GWR. Some are destined for ScotRail, and others for store.
The coaches are owned by Angel Trains. The rolling stock leasing company is also supplying SR with Mk 3s, with nine four-coach sets and 17 five-coach HSTs. There is the possibility that the four-coach sets could be extended ( RAIL 836).
The company has told RAIL that 302 Mk 3s will go off-lease, including those with Virgin Trains East Coast, following the introduction of IEP ( RAIL 836).
Meanwhile, a further rake of GWR Mk 3s has been taken to Wabtec Rail’s Doncaster facility for refurbishment and fitting with plug doors.
Off-lease 43033 and 43148 took TF 41038, TS 42004/055, 42102, 42292, 42343, 42562 and TGS 44079 to Doncaster on October 21. These coaches are destined for ScotRail. Most were from LA03, although 42056 has been swapped with 42004, with the latter bound for SR instead. The TFKB from LA03 has remained with GWR.
The power cars then moved to Loughborough for overhaul. GWR removed 43033’s Driver Brian Cooper 15 June 1947-5 October 1999 nameplate before it left the operator.
There are now 12 Mk 3s at Doncaster for refurbishment for SR (TF 41032/038, TS 42004/045/046/ 055, 42102, 42292, 42343, 42561/ 562 and TGS 44079), and four power cars at Loughborough (43033/036, 43134/148).
Additionally, 43021 and 43132 are being used by SR for driver training ( RAIL 835), but will move south for overhaul in due course.
The rake of four Mk 3s currently being used by SR (TFB 40207, TS 42047, 42207 and TGS 44015) will eventually be sent off-lease. Two more short rakes will be sent to Scotland for driver training, with the first refurbished set expected to join the operator for training from February.
The next Class 43s to leave GWR will be 43143 Stroud 700 and 43146, followed by 43037 PENYDARREN and 43126.