Operations
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Stadler ‘Flirt’ DMU No. 231007 became the first of the class to work on the Maesteg branch on July 9. It’s seen forming the 3Z31/14.05 Maesteg to Cardiff Canton test trip past the signalbox at Tondu.
MARK JENKINS
A fatality on the West Coast Main Line on Monday, June 26 at Oxenholme around 09.00 meant buses replacing passenger trains between Preston and Carlisle. After the 1M07/06.30 departed from Glasgow Central, worked by Class 390 No. 390039, bound for London Euston, that day’s next direct AWC from Glasgow to London was not until the 1M14/14.01, operated by No. 390128. Northbound on that day after the arrival in Glasgow at 10.38, the next direct arrival from Euston was at 18.21 with service 1S69 worked by No. 390124. Whilst most AWC Anglo-Scottish services are worked by Class 390 units, on Sunday, July 2, the 9S54/11.10 Crewe to Edinburgh and 9M47/15.51 return was worked by Class 221 units Nos. 221110+221115.
The Highland Chieftain, 12.00 ex-London King’s Cross, was observed running 20 minutes late at Darlington on May 28, due to delays in the Grantham area. The power issues affecting the southern part of the LNER network had still not been resolved two hours later as the 13.30 departure from King’s Cross to Edinburgh was seen leaving Darlington 20 minutes late at 16.41.
Class 91 departures from Leeds to King’s Cross on July 3 were noted as No. 91106 at 11.15; No. 91105 at 12.45; and No. 91110 at 13.15. Of these, No. 91105 and its train came from Neville Hill depot, as the inward working from London, due at 12.16, had been cancelled.
Reading Green Park opened on Saturday, May 27. A personal first visit to the new station was made by a correspondent on Tuesday, June 13, arriving on the 2J55/17.15 Reading to Basingstoke, formed of No. 165111 and returning to Reading on the 2J52/17.19 from Basingstoke formed of No. 165127.