Only two weeks before the 1970s vintage High Speed Trains are withdrawn from service on the East Coast main line between London, York and Scotland, and this example paused at platform 9 at York just before the shot of the steam locomotive posted yesterday.
I don't know how many journeys I've made on these trains, but it must be many hundreds, and I've covered tens of thousands of miles on them since they were introduces on this route in 1978.
Their finale was brought about by disability discrimination legislation which is fully effective from 1st January 2020, and the high cost of upgrading these already old trains to make them compliant.
However, the story doesn't quite end then. One complete train is to be repainted in it's original livery and it will tour the East Coast network on special trains over three days just before Christmas. Also, as a temporary arrangement, some East Coast HST's will transfer to work on the Midland line from Sheffield and Nottingham to London, since the Midland line trains are even less compliant than the East Coast trains, and a derogation has been granted to allow this until the new trains for the Midland line are built.
Finally, there are some modified trains that will work in the south-west of England, in Scotland and on a small number of Cross Country services.
brilliant capture
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Thank you all for all your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated!
Katharine looked considerably better this afternoon and is beginning to talk seriously about getting out of hospital and back home again.
Ian
Ian