HST power cars for scrap

AS THIS issue of Railways Illustrated went to press, it was understood that two Class 43 High Speed Train power cars were destined to move to Newport for scrapping. Owned by Porterbrook, former LNER HST power cars 43061/075 are set to become the first production power cars to be scrapped that were not written off in an accident. Both have been stored since LNER dispensed with HSTS. They are fitted with VP185 power units, having been previously part of the East Midlands Trains fleet before being leased to LNER. They were subsequently formally transferred to the ECML operator but were never repainted or re-engined, and they still carry EMT branding. The power cars were stored in January 2020 (43061) and November 2019 (43075) and have mainly been stored at Long Marston. There are 69 HST power cars stored – including the two destined for scrapping and five which Railways Illustrated understands have been secured for preservation – owned mainly by Porterbrook and Angel Trains, although Firstgroup owns damaged 43195, while 43300 transferred to East Midlands Railway, having also been damaged in an accident at Neville Hill.

Both Roscos have been reluctant to scrap the Class 43s despite the lack of potential reuse and the length of time some of the power cars have been out of traffic. However, some 359 HST Mk.3 trailer coaches have been scrapped since the end of 2019.

Of the 197 power cars, only 43011/019/140/173 have been scrapped, all of which were damaged beyond economic repair in serious rail accidents.