Chiltern commences Birmingham loco-hauled
By: Gareth Bayer
Loco-hauled services begin on the Chiltern Railways route between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone.
MOOR STREET REBORN: Pictured in the recently re-opened bay platforms at Birmingham’s Moor Street station, Wrexham & Shropshire-liveried Class 67 No. 67014 Thomas Telford (all part of the same Deutsche Bahn-owned family) is ready to depart with the 1H06 05.46 to London Marylebone. This was the first working of Chiltern Railways’ new loco-hauled service between the two cities. Paul Waring
EARLY December saw a number of test runs carried out by Chiltern Railways in preparation for the introduction of its new Class 67-hauled services from the December timetable change. For example, December 1st found 67014 taking a Wrexham & Shropshire set from Chiltern’s Wembley depot to Birmingham Snow Hill for platform step and disabled ramp height checks against the Mk. 3s while 67018 performed similarly to High Wycombe late on December 8th, the original destination of Banbury not being reached due to late running.
From the 12th, a WSMR set commenced weekday operation from Birmingham as 1H06 05.46 Birmingham Moor Street–Marylebone and 1R47 16.33 return, while 67018, a six coach rake of DB Regio stock and the Chiltern-liveried DVT 82302 worked 1H08 06.53 Banbury–Marylebone and 1U53 18.06 return, calling at Bicester North, Haddenham & Thame Parkway and Princes Risborough.
In readiness for the new operation, December 10th saw the formal opening of the reinstated platforms at Birmingham Moor Street by the Chiltern Railways Chairman, Adrian Shooter. The two bay platforms were brought into full use the next day.
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