125 Group

Our first Railtours of 2026!

Our plans to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the HST this year are shaping up, so we are pleased to confirm our first Railtours for 2026.

The North-South Connection – Friday 1st May

This one-way stock move between Manchester Victoria and Reading calling at:

  • Manchester Victoria (approx 10:30)
  • Stockport (approx 11:00)
  • Stoke on Trent (approx 11:30)
  • Nuneaton (p.u approx 12:10)
  • Watford Junction (s.d approx 13:30)
  • Reading (s.d. approx 15:00)

Fares between all points are £39 standard / £59 First Class & light refreshments will be available from the buffet counter. Shop125 will also be on board, located in Coach C.

This tour is now available for booking and more detail is available via our friends at the Branch Line Society here.

The Welsh Dragon – Saturday 2nd May

Recreating the HST operations from the 1990s, our train will operate as follows:

  • London Euston (approx 09:00)
  • Watford Junction (p.u approx 09:20)
  • Milton Keynes Central (approx 09:40)
  • Nuneaton (approx 10:20)

We then run via Crewe to Llandudno where the annual Transport Festival will be underway. If you wish to spend longer on our set, stay on board for a mini-trip via Llandudno Jcn. to Holyhead and back. Our return trip from Llandudno will leave early evening, setting down at the stations above and arriving into Euston approx 22:00.

Fares will be available as follows:

Main tour to/from Llandudno:

  • First Class: £99 (Table for 2 supplement of £20 per person)
  • Standard Class: £73 Adult (£58 accompanied under 18)

Main & Mini tour combined:

  • First Class: £119 (Table for 2 supplement of £20 per person)
  • Standard Class: £89 Adult (£74 accompanied under 18)

The main tour & combined tours can be booked via our friends at the Branch Line Society here.

Mini tour only (limited availability):

  • First Class: £35
  • Standard Class: £25

The Mini tour is now available for booking via our friends at the Branch Line Society here.

Refreshments including freshly cooked items will be available from the buffet counter. Shop125 will also be available on both tours, located in Coach C.

All times stated are approximate and more detail will follow once these are confirmed by Network Rail.

Our first book ‘125-The Enduring Icon’

We are delighted that 125 Group’s first book will be published in late June 2018 and is now available to pre-order. ‘125 – The Enduring Icon’ is 100% HST and tells the story of the last forty-five years of the InterCity 125 in a new and very factual way.

Using a largely photographic format, supplemented by detailed text sections and captions, the whole history is covered to ensure the fullest possible picture of the operational life of HSTs from inception up to the end of 2017. Chapters cover the early days, the business impact on InterCity, developments through privatisation, extremities of operation, the engine developments and enhancements, and the preservation story of the prototype. Superb photographs illustrate the whole story, with significant detail of the evolving fleet.

Written and collated by 125 Group, and with a foreword by our Hon President, Sir Kenneth Grange, this 96 page soft-cover book promises to be the highlight publication of 2018 and is one that should be on every HST enthusiast’s shelf. With a launch date in late June 2018, you can pre-order your copy HERE on our website. Guaranteed dispatch by post immediately following publication and receipt of stock from the publishers. Price is £14.99 + UK Postage and Packing of £3.00 = Buy Price £17.99

125 Group’s profits from this important publication go straight to our preservation funds. By purchasing ‘125 – The Enduring Icon’ direct from our website you will be helping us achieve our aim of securing a Production HST, thank you for your support.