GWR Class 387s take over Heathrow Express

GREAT WESTERN Railway assumed responsibility for the Heathrow Express service when its adapted Class 387s replaced the Class 332s fully on December 29, 2020. The latter have provided the service since 1998 but no further use has been found for them and they have been sent for scrap. One has been saved and has been donated for use as a learning centre.

On December 28 the final Class 332s in use were 332004, 332008 and 332011. The following day Class 387/1s took over with 387130/133, 387132/141 and 387136/139 in use as pairs. GWR’s sub-fleet of 12 Class 387s has recently been overhauled and equipped with European Train Control Systems by Bombardier for use on the Heathrow shuttle. The units have also benefited from an interior upgrade, which includes new passenger information screens and the addition of a Business First section with a 2+1 seating layout. Heathrow Express is running a half hourly service due to the pandemic.