High Speed Train

Okehampton-Stratford HST Railtour Sat 21st April

Great Western power cars 43138 and 43134 on previous railtour duty at Stratford-upon-Avon, 27th March 1999. © 125 Group

This Saturday 21st April a special High Speed Train railtour will run from Okehampton through to Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon, exceedingly rare for a HST! The special ‘Royal Oke’ charter will be operated using a Great Western Railway Inter-City 125, calling points are Okehampton Town (depart 0710, arrive back 2046), Crediton (0747/2005), Exeter St.Davids (0812/1947), Oxford (1026/1720) and Stratford-upon-Avon (arrive 1132, depart 1613). The railtour is booked to run via the Down and Up Main through lines at Leamington Spa. Tickets are still available, including a special reduced fare of £20 from Oxford.

The railtour is operated by OkeRAIL, campaigning for the reintroduction of passenger trains between Okehampton and Exeter.
More information is available on the OkeRAIL website here:  https://okerail.2day.uk/
To book tickets from stations Okehampton Town, Crediton and Exeter St.Davids click here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/486973
To book tickets from Oxford only click here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/491432
Tickets are sold by the railtour organiser OkeRAIL only.

If you have any questions about the railtour please contact OkeRAIL via their website / facebook / twitter.
Please do not contact 125 Group or Great Western Railway with queries about this railtour.

Easter Saturday Prototype HST action at GCRN

Prototype HST at Loughborough Viaduct GCRN ©125 Group

Prototype High Speed Train Power Car 41001 and 125 Group’s matching Mk3 coaches will be working passenger trains at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) on Easter Saturday 31st March. Services depart from Ruddington station at 1030, 1215, 1400 and 1545 running to Loughborough Viaduct and back under the Yellow Timetable.

The GCR(N) route is just under 10 miles long, after departing from Ruddington trains reverse at Fifty Steps (no station) then run southbound calling at Rushcliffe Halt station, continuing through the scenic Nottinghamshire countryside to Loughborough Viaduct, which has no station but affords a great view over the Midland Mainline and looks down into Brush Locomotive Works, with class 43s, 73s, 92s and 319s often visible. Ruddington station (sat-nav postcode NG11 6JS) is the base for GCR(N) with many heritage transport exhibits, car parking and bus links to Nottingham and Loughborough. Tickets available to buy on-board the train on the day or in advance from www.gcrn.co.uk which has further information.

On all services ‘Buffet 125’ will be open on-board our Mk3 coach RFM 10206, selling hot snacks, sandwiches, hot and cold beverages plus alcoholic drinks including bottled beer, our volunteers will be pleased to serve you. The 125 Group sales stand will also be on the train, with our latest range of merchandise available. We hope you can join us!