Off-lease HST Mk 3s taken to Ely for storage

Nineteen off-lease ex-Great Western Railway High Speed Train Mk 3s were moved to Ely for storage in the week before Christmas.

Rail Operations Group 47812 and 47815 Lost Boys 68-88 were used for the moves, both of which originated at Laira (Plymouth).

The first trip, on December 19, involved Trailer Firsts (TF) 41004, 41140, Trailer Standards (TS) 42069/070, 42118, 42287/289, 42513 and Trailer Guard’s Standards (TGS) 44023/037. The second move, on December 21, featured TF 41126, TS 42216/261, 42344, 42508, TGS 44030 and Trailer Composite (TC) 46001/010/011.

The stock is owned by Angel Trains, and has been made redundant by the introduction of Intercity Express Trains with GWR.

All long-distance GWR trains should be operated by IETs by the end of March, with Porterbrookowned Mk 3s set to head off-lease shortly. Already some of that rolling stock leasing company’s catering vehicles are stored at the nowclosed Landore depot.