AVANTI /\ WES T COA~

FROM about 11.00 on Saturday May 8 the West Coast Main Line was closed, with further works being undertaken in the Thankerton-Symington area, at Beattock Summit and at Law Junction. The trains involved at Beattock Summit included 6X08/10.45 from Carlisle New Yard, top-and-tailed by Class 66 Nos. 66550+66952; 6K35/09.35 from Millerhill worked by No. 66302; and the 6U 12/11.44 from Abington worked by No. DR73114.

In the Thankerton area trains included the 6K01/11.40 from Millerhill, top-and-tailed by Nos. 66093 and 66099; the 6K03/10.15 from Carlisle New Yard top-and-tailed by Nos. 66760 and 66771; the 6U 17 /15.53 from Carstairs operated with No. DR73111 and the 6J98/16.08 from Carstairs operated by No. DR77001.

In the Law Junction area trains included the 6Kl 0/22.13 from Millerhill, top-and-tailed by Nos. 66025 and 66127; the 6K11/22.43 from Millerhill operated by No. 66706; the 6K12/23.13 from Millerhill operated by No. 66429, and the 6K15/00.43 (Sunday) from Millerhill top-and-tailed by Nos. 66783 and 66786.

LN_ER

TransPennine Express 'Nova 1' No. 802209 heads south at Lamberton towards Berwick-upon-Tweed on June 4, with the 10.21 Edinburgh­ Newcastle. ROBIN STEWART-SMITH

Forget' livery, was then at the head of the 1D22/16.33 to Bradford Forster Square, which was apparently taken out of service at Grantham "due to an issue with the train crew''.

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THE introduction of the new timetable on Sunday, May 16, was overshadowed by the discovery of cracks around the jacking points on the aluminium bodyshells of Hitachi Inter-city trainsets of Classes 800,801 and 802, resulting in safety checks being carried out on all 182 trains.

Over the weekend of May 8/9 a significant number of train services were cancelled and on the morning of Sunday, May 9, it was reported 75 sets had failed inspections at GWR. On the evening of Monday, May 10, FOLLOWING the problems GWR was able to extend its Class associated with its Azuma fleet, 387-worked London Paddington LNER was reported to have had to Didcot shuttle service as 31 Class 80x sets available to far as Swindon. Other support cover 48 diagrams on May 11. included Cross Country's Three days later it confirmed that introduction of a shuttle service it had 46 of its 65 Azuma sets between Swindon and Bristol available for use. On Tuesday, Temple Meads. From Monday, May 11, LNER returned to traffic May 24, some Class 387 services a number of its IC225 train sets, worked through to Bristol which had been placed in store Parkway. pending the end of remodelling To help boost the GWR Class work at London King's Cross 387 fleet during the Hitachi in June. A visit to King's Cross issues, three c2C units Nos. station on the afternoon of 387301/02/06 have been Friday, May 14, found No. temporarily hired to GWR. 91106 Battle of Britain Memorial They were hauled to Reading

Flight at the buffer stops on Traincare Depot on May 12 by platform 5 having brought in Class 57 No. 57306. the 1A30/12.45 from Leeds. The On Tuesday, May 25, same set, but with driving trailer No. 387302 was seen at Reading No. 82213 leading then formed West working the 2K33/11.06 the 1D20/15.33 to Leeds. The from Newbury to Reading, while 1A31 /13.15 from Leeds was then No. 387306 was on the 12.09 seen arriving at platform 6 led by from Newbury to Reading. The driving trailer No. 82223 with No. third unit No. 387301 could be 91106 at the rear. No. 91110, seen in the siding by Reading which is in special 'Lest We Traincare Depot.

CLASS 769 No. 769932 was moved from Brush Loughborough to Nemesis Rail, Burton, by Class 37 No. 37800 on May 17, followed by No. 769939 on the same move behind Class 57 No. 57305 on May 21. The Class 57 was in use again on June 14 moving No. 769922 from Loughborough to Nemesis. On June 16, No. 769943 was on a test run from Reading to Gatwick and return.

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CLASS 317 units are gradually coming out of service, and either being stored or sent for scrap.

On May 13 Class 57 No. 5731 O moved No. 317662 from Ely to Raxstar at Eastleigh Works. This was followed on June 21 when the Class 57 took No. 317722 to Ely. On June 9 Class 37 No. 37800 moved Nos. 317714+317723 from llford to Ely. Two days later Nos. 317732+ 317729 were also moved to Ely, this time by No.57305.

CLASS 321 units are also being taken out of traffic and put to store, mostly at Gascoigne Wood. On May 13 Class 57 No. 57305 took Nos. 321439+321443 from Clacton to Gascoigne Wood followed on May 20 by the same loco taking Nos. 321408+321444 on the same diagram. The following week, May 27, No. 57305 took Nos. 321431+ 321445 on the same route, followed by Nos. 321402+321405 on June 2. A change on June 10 had Class 37 No. 37800 move Nos. 321428+321432 from Clacton to Worksop.

NUMEROUS moves of Class 720 units have been reported including No. 720554 top-andtailed from Derby to Wembley by Nos. 66770+56081 on May 19.

Returning from Worksop to

Derby on May 24 was No. 720555 with station-stopping and top-and-tailed by Nos. 47749+ door-opening tests taking place 47739. A double move on May 27 en route. June 1 saw the launch saw Nos. 66781 +56081 take of new traction on the Harwich No. 720571 from Derby to Town-Manningtree branch Worksop, returning with service, but not as expected in No. 720570. A similar diagram on the form of Class 720 Aventra June 2 had Nos. 47749+47739 units but with a Stadler Class 755 move No. 720567 to Worksop No. 755405. and return with No. 720565 but to Leicester where 47739 was A TRIP from Liverpool Street to declared a failure. It was replaced Hackney Downs on Bank Holiday the next day by No. 56081 and Monday May 31 was made on the unit returned to Derby. The the 2034/13.42 to Hertford pairing of Nos. 47727+56081 East, which was formed of Class on June 1