The introduction of 172 trains on Snow Hill lines marks the end of 26-years of service for class 150s trains which have operated across the West Midlands since 1985.
To commemorate the occasion London Midland will run a 5 carriage special passenger train on Saturday 12 November 2011 around the West Midlands using the prototype 3 car unit 150001 and an another 2 car class 150.
The day will start at Birmingham Snow Hill at 0750 and pick up at Smethwick Galton Bridge (0807), Rowley Regis (0812), Stourbridge Junction (0822), Kidderminster (0834), Droitwich Spa (0848) and Worcester Shrub Hill (0900).
Once ticket holders are on-board the special train will depart Worcester Shrub Hill for Birmingham New Street via the ‘Lickey Bank’ and a diversionary route which is not often used by London Midland services.
The train will then go on to Walsall returning into Birmingham New Street and then on to Kidderminster via Soho and Smethwick Galton Junction.
On arrival at Kidderminster, the train will join the Severn Valley Railway for a scenic trip to Bridgnorth.
On its return, it will then go forward to Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington Spa before rounding off the day at Worcester Shrub Hill (via Tyseley) by calling at Smethwick Galton Bridge, Rowley Regis, Stourbridge Junction, Kidderminster and Droitwich Spa.
London Midland’s Wallace Weatherill said:
“The original idea for the event came from our driver and conductor team who have been working with these units since the 1980s. They wanted to recognise the steadfast service the 150s have completed in the Midlands.
“London Midland will be donating all proceeds to the Railway Children charity which helps vulnerable children in grave circumstances. This special day will be an opportunity for us and the public to say goodbye to an old friend and raise some cash for a good cause.”
All traincrew working on the special train are donating their time to the charity and Network Rail have waived their charges and have allowed access through loops and depots which are not usually travelled through by the public.
Tickets cost £20 per adult, £10 per child £50 for a family of 4.
And guess who’s getting these cast offs? The poor relations up north: http://manchestertransport.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/northerns-london-midland-central-cast-offs-arrive/
Totally agree with Mr Wantage. These 27 year-old “hand-me-downs” are already in use on local services out of Liverpool Lime Street and could be still running on Northern services for some years to come. I recall that in the mid-1960s, the North (Lancashire & Yorkshire) was the last region to have an allocation of ageing steam locomotives, many transferred from other areas where modern diesels had taken over services. History appears to be repeating itself, as it looks as if all the ageing Pacers and Sprinters will end their days in the North, whilst passengers in the rest of the country are blest with new-build trains. Even with further electrification, we Northerners will undoubtedly be given cascaded Class 350s or 357s because, as usual, all new-build EMUs automatically go to the Southern area franchises.