GTR to GWR

GOVIA Thameslink Railway is temporarily sub-leasing six Gatwick Express Class 387/2 sets to Great Western Railway as GWR continues to deal with the lower availability of Hitachi Intercity Express Trains (IET) due to cracks to the lifting points.

The loan, with consent from the Department for Transport, which will help support capacity while a long-term repair programme for IETs is put in place, saw the first three units, Nos. 387204/205/206 depart Hornsey depot on July 13. Three more were expected to be transferred later in July.

The units can be spared due to the temporary suspension of Gatwick Express services while passenger numbers remain low because of Covid-19.