Operations Track Record
Although there were no direct passenger services from Scotland to the northwest of England on Saturday, August
20, due to the rail strikes, Avanti West Coast’s Class 390
No. 390001 ran ECS (5Z12/11.32) from Glasgow Central to Longsight depot, Manchester via Crewe.
On August 24, Avanti West Coast Class 390 No. 390138 ran ECS from Glasgow Central (0M07/07.33) to Preston from where the unit formed the 1M07/10.13 for London Euston.
On August 17, Class 745
No. 745008 worked the 12.00 Norwich to London Liverpool St. This was terminated at Ipswich due to flooding around Bentley crossing. Passengers then transferred to Class 321 Nos. 321305+321319 which formed the late running 12.42 to London, which then ran at 40mph to Manningtree.
This train was terminated at Colchester ‘due to late running’ and subsequently went on to Colchester depot. A further change saw passengers then join Class 720 No. 720531 from Colchester to complete their journey to London. Two days later, the 17.00 Liverpool Street to Norwich was cancelled due to an issue with the set, so passengers were directed to the 17.30 formed of No. 745110.
Former Greater Anglia Class 321 units Nos. 321405+321445 were moved from Gascoigne Wood by Class 37 No. 37800 on August 25 on their final journey to CF Booth, Rotherham for disposal.
Movements of Class 720 units reported include No. 720512 taken from Derby to Wembley by Class 47 No. 47739 on August 26. On September 5, No. 720544 was top-and-tailed from Worksop to Derby by Class 47 Nos. 47727+47749. A further move on September 9 found
No. 720109 being taken from Derby to Wembley by No. 47749.
The Renatus upgraded
Class 321s are still currently working the hourly service on the Harwich-Manningtree branch line but in the coming months could be replaced by Class 720s. There are still three sidings full of Class 379s in Harwich Parkeston Quay yard but weekly, on a Wednesday, it appears that two units leave for Ilford as 5V13 at around 10.30 and are replaced by two back from Ilford as 5A32 arriving around 15.00.
On a recent visit to London by a correspondent (from Manningtree on August 18, a strike day), Class 379s were noted in Ilford depot and two sets of two in Aldersbrook carriage sidings, just south of Ilford station. That particular journey into the capital, aboard Stadler Flirt Class 745/1
No. 745001, lightly passenger loaded, and possibly unevenly distributed, was notable for its very unusual swaying movement over points and certain sections of the track that has previously not been experienced on a normal loaded Class 745 service.
On the return journey the following day, not a strike day, aboard the 16.30 out of Liverpool Street, surprisingly with the same Class 745, but now fully loaded, the experience of swaying was not repeated.
Routes via Perth were closed on September 8, following torrential rain which was causing flooding on the tracks at the entrance to Moncrieffe Tunnel just south of Perth.
A move from Laira to Wabtec occurred on August 24 involving Nos. 43285+ 44052+4 2380+42038+42036+42374+4 5005+41195+42377+43207.
Services between Lincoln Central and Retford were suspended at the start of service on Sunday, September 4 due to Matisa tamper
No. DR75404 having been derailed at Stow Park.
Class 323 No. 323236 ran from Allerton to Wolverton Works on September 8 replacing
No. 323223 which returned north to Allerton. Class 68 No. 68025 Superb propelled an ECS rake of Nova 3 coaches on August 26, from Crewe 5S10/07.36 to Polmadie (Glasgow), being observed through Lancaster at 08.50. Later that day the Class 68 ran light back to Warrington from Polmadie.
An adjustment to the ongoing TPE driver training programme for the Manchester Piccadilly to Cleethorpes operation was reported on September 12 when the 5B73/09.26 outbound from Cleethorpes was powered by Direct Rail Services-liveried Class 68 No. 68033. The return trip inbound to Cleethorpes due around 15.30, had been 37 minutes late departing Piccadilly and eventually arrived at Cleethorpes 25 minutes late.
Interestingly, the loco had been changed and the train was now powered by TPE fleet Class 68 No. 68024, one of the regulars on these runs, but with the loco leading the train on this eastbound run, whereas the standard format has always been engine trailing on eastbound and leading on westbound.
Two Class 777 units, Nos. 777001+777008, were top-andtailed from Crewe to Kirkdale by Class 20 Nos. 20007+20205 and 20189+20142 on September 13.
Movements of new Class 197 units reported in the period under review include No. 197009 being moved from Wolverton to Crewe by Class 66 No. 66559 on August 22, and on September 6 when
No. 197008 was taken north by Class 66 No.66551. Yet another move from Wolverton to Crewe occurred on September 8 with No. 197007 hauled by No. 66517. This was followed on September 12 with 197006 being taken north behind
Class 90 No. 90047 and Class 66 No. 66509.
On August 25, Class 197 No. 197102 was observed arriving at Crewe from Shrewsbury on a regular test run.
A correspondent travelled from Colwyn Bay to Chester on the 14.34 Holyhead to Cardiff Central on Tuesday, August 30. Rather surprisingly for a journey of over 230 miles, the train was formed of a pair of Class 153s, Nos 153353+153361. There were on-train announcements which were virtually inaudible, but these units continued south from Chester. A number of the new Class 197 DMUs, both two and three-car sets, were seen at Chester and travelling along the North Wales coastline, on crew-training runs. Movements reported of new Class 730 units included No. 730001 hauled by Class 37 No. 37510 from Derby to Oxley on August 19, the same Class 37 taking No. 730009 from Oxley to Bletchley on August 22, and again on August 25 to move No. 730008 from Oxley to Bletchley.
The 1R93/12.10 departure to Birmingham Moor Street was seen leaving from platform 3 at Marylebone behind Class 68 No. 68011 on Wednesday, August 24 with DVT No. 82305 at the rear of the train.
The Class 168 units will be going to Crewe LNWR for a refreshment programme with No. 168001 being the first unit to be moved north under the auspices of Hanson & Hall on September 10.
A cable theft incident between Kettering and Wellingborough on August 2 caused the inevitable disruption to London services. Some services made it no further south than Leicester, while others were cancelled throughout.
At Norwich on August 17 Class 170 No. 170638 was working an East Midlands Norwich to Liverpool service. Two days later, former Scotrail Class 170 No. 170420 arrived with a delayed East Midlands service from Nottingham. Just under a month from when it opened on July 18, a personal first journey was made to Barking Riverside on Wednesday, August 17, by a regular correspondent on the 2J63/13.54 from Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside, which was joined at Wanstead Park and was formed of Class 710 No. 710269. Approaching Barking, the train passed over the flyover before stopping at platform 7 at Barking station. The route over the flyover was formerly considered as ‘rare track’, but since the service has been extended to Barking Riverside, it is the line to platform 1 at Barking that is the rarity.
An attempt to leave Barking Riverside on the 2J84/16.03 to Gospel Oak, was thwarted. Joining the train, formed of
No. 710256, at platform 1, the floor was found running with water. Having dismissed the idea that the roof was leaking; the only possible conclusion was the doors had opened at a station on the inbound journey during a torrential downpour. Departure time of 16.03 came, and then went. The automated announcement said the train was delayed due to a ‘problem under investigation’.
The departure time for the following train, 16.18, came and then the driver announced all services between South Tottenham and Barking Riverside were suspended due to flooding. According to Realtime Trains, train 2J84 ‘was cancelled due to severe flooding’.
New Class 710 No. 710270 was delivered to Ilford from Derby on September 6, topand-tailed by Class 37 Nos. 37510+37611. TfL has confirmed that from Sunday, November 6 Elizabeth Line trains from Reading and Heathrow Airport will run east through the cross-London tunnels to Abbey Wood. Elizabeth Line trains from Shenfield will terminate at Paddington. Sunday services will be introduced on the same date. Bond Street station is to open ‘by November’.
New Class 720 No. 720606 was moved from Derby to Wembley by Class 37 No. 37510 on August 30. The same Class 37 was in use again on September 12 to convey No. 720607, also from Derby to Wembley. Movement of the stored Class 465 units between Ely and Wabtec, Doncaster, continues with Nos. 465240+465248 being towed from Doncaster to Ely by Class 37 No. 37884 on August 24, with the same loco taking No. 465235 in the opposite direction on September 5. The half-hourly Hastings to Charing Cross and return Southeastern services were diverted via the Southern main line at Redhill and East Croydon and terminated at London Bridge due to major engineering work over the bank holiday weekend. Noted on August 29 at Redhill were Nos. 375602/03/11/25/27/28, 375707/09/14/15, 375806/10/18/21/23, 375909/15. The Hastings to Charing Cross and return services were diverted via Redhill, East Croydon and terminating at London Bridge lower level on September 3. Units noted were Nos. 375603/11/30, 375707/08/10, 375805/10/11/20/22/24/26/30, 375902/06/16/25. The next day saw the Hastings services returned to the South Eastern lines and diverted to London Victoria and were attaching/detaching at Tonbridge with services to and from Ashford. Units noted were Nos. 375603/11/29/30, 375707/08/10, 375802/08/ 11/20/22/25/30, 375906/ 08/24-27.