Back to the future
LNER unveils a new twist to an old livery for the InterCity 225 fleet.
LONDON North Eastern Railway has announced that its remaining ‘Intercity 225’ fleet is to be repainted into colours similar to those carried when new.
Class 91 locomotive No. 91127 and Mk.4 set NL17 were the first to be so-treated, images being released by the operator on June 13.
The red, oxblood, grey and white colour scheme, complete with LNER logos, is described as “new and distinctive”, although it is essentially an adaptation of British Rail’s InterCity Swallow livery originally worn by these locomotives and coaches, with oxblood being used in place of the previous dark grey.
LNER’s director of engineering John Doughty said: “The new livery is not only essential for the upkeep of the fleet, but also brings it into the LNER family.
“The livery was inspired in part by the popularity of the original ‘InterCity 225’ design, and we’ve kept the sharp lines and red and white stripes famously associated with the trains which have a place in the hearts of many people.”
All 31 of the Class 91s built were inherited by LNER when it took over the operation of East Coast Main Line services in 2018 and, alongside its 65 Hitachi-built Class 800 and Class 801 ‘Azuma’ trains, the company has retained 12 of the locomotives and eight rakes of Mk.4 coaches.
Leased from Eversholt Rail, the Class 91s and Mk.4 sets currently operate between King’s Cross and Leeds/York, but there is speculation this might be extended to Newcastle. The Mk.4s will be reliveried as part of scheduled maintenance at Wabtec Doncaster.
In addition to No. 91127, Nos. 91101, 91105/06/07, 91109, 91114, 91124, and 91130 will be repainted, but the special liveries carried on No. 91110 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and No. 91111 For the Fallen, as well the InterCity ‘Swallow’ livery already applied to No. 91119 Bounds Green Intercity Depot 1977-2017, will stay.