HST

HIGH SPEED TRAIN (INTER-CITY 125) 50TH ANNIVERSARY PUBLIC RAILTOUR

The Journey Shrinker

It seems incredible that rail operation at 125 mph has been happening on the railways of Great Britain for fifty years.  It was on the 4th October 1976 that the first public trains operated at this speed, opening a complete new chapter in the operations of our railways.  It was a massive step change over what had gone before and it was all thanks to the iconic High Speed Train.

To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary, 125 Group – as custodian of one of the few remaining operational HSTs in England – is planning to operate a celebratory tour on Saturday the 3rd October 2026, retracing the routes of the initial day of operation.  Using our beautifully restored coaches and power cars, we will travel from London Paddington via Box Tunnel to Bristol Temple Meads.  After a short break, we will venture through the Severn Tunnel into Wales to reach Swansea where we will take a longer break, before returning  to Paddington via the Chipping Sodbury route – all lines that saw HST operation on that first week in October fifty years ago.

We will be offering travel in either First or Standard accommodation and our 125 Group buffet will be available for hot and cold drinks and snacks.  Every participant will receive a Commemorative Brochure celebrating the initial day and the events over the fifty years since.  You can join us for the whole day, or for various individual single legs which will all be available to book shortly through our new on-line booking site.

It will be a day to remember – and a great opportunity for another trip over the famous GWR High Speed routes in a beautifully presented InterCity 125.

Not satisfied with this exciting event, we will need to get our set back to Bury on Sunday 4th October – so what better way to do it than by recreating an operation from twenty-three years ago with “The Rio Revival”.  Hoping to start from St Pancras at a friendly time, we will run up the Midland Mainline, calling at Leicester, Chesterfield, Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly.  Single fares only, as there is no return offering but what better way to travel north after the previous day’s tour?  Might even be a discount for booking both tours!!

Full details of both trips, together with fares and booking options are now available here.

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.