HST

[SwindonManor]

So, as we know after the horrifying incident in Stonehaven invovling a Scotrail HST, ASLEF have announced their removal from service. Left right and centre TOCS were waving goodbye to them, some are now on heritage railways. But what I want to know is, how long will the GWR Castles stay running? They have been announced through summer on the roster in Cornwall only (presuming Plymouth - Penzance) so will September possibly mark the end of HSTs on the mainline?

 

[driverd]

That's not really accurate. ASLEF can't withdraw HSTs. Left right and centre tocs are.... running them as normal until the end of the lease contracts.

I believe GWR plan to replace theirs with 175s imminently, Scotrail have theirs until, I think, 2027, and Colas/rail adventure (who have plenty of drivers in ASLEF) have no plans to withdraw their fleets.

 

[co-tr-paul]

From Dec 2024 but most likely running next year.

 

[BillStampy]

I believe GWR plan to replace theirs with 175s imminently, Scotrail have theirs until, I think, 2027, and Colas/rail adventure (who have plenty of drivers in ASLEF) have no plans to withdraw their fleets.

As someone following the 175s (easily seen as my profile), I can tell that yes, it's almost certainly going to happen with the remaining Castle rakes replaced by them. Scotrail will probably keep them until 2027 yes, Colas and Rail Adventure almost certainly aren't going to remove them as they're using them consistantly and would not get rid of them in any right mind, especially seeing how Colas have taken on some CrossCountry powercars.

 

[SwindonManor]

That's not really accurate. ASLEF can't withdraw HSTs. Left right and centre tocs are.... running them as normal until the end of the lease contracts.

I believe GWR plan to replace theirs with 175s imminently, Scotrail have theirs until, I think, 2027, and Colas/rail adventure (who have plenty of drivers in ASLEF) have no plans to withdraw their fleets.

Thank you for the infromation I just heard from some sources that that was the case evidently not, but what I meant by 'left right centre' was that EMR withdrew theirs as did XC.....Oh whoops ok I can't think of of any other TOCs that actually withdrew theirs

 

[The exile]

Thank you for the infromation I just heard from some sources that that was the case evidently not, but what I meant by 'left right centre' was that EMR withdrew theirs as did XC.....Oh whoops ok I can't think of of any other TOCs that actually withdrew theirs

Both of those happening when they were really DfT kneejerk reactions to COVID and its aftermath.

 

[USRailFan]

From Dec 2024 but most likely running next year.

Wonder if they'll deliberately drag it out long enough to ensure at least some of the rolling stock gets to experience 50 years of continuous service?

 

[The exile]

I should think they're likely still to be in service with Scotrail on 04/10/26. Got to survive till 2028 for me to get my own personal HST 50th anniversary, which I suspect is a bit more doubtful!

 

[Neptune]

I should think they're likely still to be in service with Scotrail on 04/10/26. Got to survive till 2028 for me to get my own personal HST 50th anniversary, which I suspect is a bit more doubtful!

Yes one of the original 253001, 43003 is with Scotrail so should achieve it.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Romic, who have have exported HSTs to Mexico and Nigeria, have got first dibs on all the remaining HST stock. This is from an interview (PDF) with chairman Robert Coleman in Railways Illustrated:

Romic’s successful partnership with Porterbrook and Angel Trains has effectively seen the company place a reservation on all of the HST stock left in the
UK belonging to the two leasing companies, including the remaining stored stock and those still in traffic. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that every remaining HST vehicle will be exported, the company has a potentially large pool of power cars and Mk.3 coaches which could be available for further use once they are finally withdrawn by UK operators.

Robert said: “There is likely to be at least one more shipment of vehicles to both Nigeria and Mexico before the end of this year, but at the moment we are waiting for more vehicles to be released back to the leasing companies. We see this as a long-term project that may also involve other stored train fleets in addition to the HSTs. Our clients have been delighted with the condition of the vehicles we have sent so far, and it is possible that we may find other customers to take some of the trains, with other operators looking at how the trains settle into use in Mexico and Nigeria.”