AT the time that train operationsin Britain were privatised inthe 1990s, it was decided that asking the new franchised operators to purchase the rolling stock would discourage bidders wishing to operate services. With the length of franchises being set at much less than the service life of the vehicles, it was clear that the ability to lease rather than buy the rolling stock would be needed to allow effective business plans to be formulated.
As a result, three rolling stock leasing companies (‘Roscos’) were formed, which took over ownership of British Rail’s rolling stock in April 1994 with the intention of a future sale. The Roscos initially remained subsidiary companies of BR, so the change was reflected in an asset transfer agreement that did not place a monetary value on the assets.
The three names adopted for the leasing companies were Angel Train Contracts Ltd, Porterbrook Leasing Company Ltd, and Eversholt Leasing Ltd. Ownership was transferred to the Government in August 1995 so that tenders could be issued to potential purchasers.
An exception to the arrangements was the InterCity Special Trains business, where the assets were sold to Waterman Railways. This comprised a fleet of eight locomotives (a Class 46 and seven Class 47s) plus 115 vehicles that included 84 Mk.1 coaches and 15 Mk.3 sleeping cars.
Railtrack also assumed responsibility for the Royal Train, which at that time had 14 vehicles available. Separate arrangements continued for the use of privately-owned rolling stock, such as the Orient Express, which had 19 vehicles owned by Sea Containers (the later operator of the East Coast franchise).
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2019-Ausgabe von Rail Express.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2019-Ausgabe von Rail Express.
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LNER puts remaining ‘91s' into warm store
The ongoing pandemic restrictions and major engineering works have resulted in the complete withdrawal of the last remaining ‘Electras’ from passenger service, although the plan is to resurrect them in the summer.
Mk.1 Restaurant-Buffet (RBR) cars
A SURPRISING number of Mk.1catering cars have survived to see service on the privatised railway, in private operator and charter trains. They may turn up on anything from an enthusiast special to higher-end dining trains and have been formed in trains as prestigious as the locomotive-hauledBlue Pullman’ set, the ‘Great Britain’ tours operated by West Coast Railways and the ‘Northern Belle’ tour train.
Powerscene
Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.
End for Freightliner Class 86/6s
The company’s Class 86/6 fleet down to just two examples as seven locos are stored.
Service reductions as Covid cases increase
An increase in Covid-19 cases in early January saw the governments in Ireland and Northern Ireland impose stricter lockdown measures that impacted on public transport.
East West Rail funding go-ahead
Although it was expected, £760 million of funding has now been confirmed to build the Western Section of the East West Railway scheme.
Travellers-Fare with Hornby's Mk.1 Restaurant-Buffet car
Hornby expands its range of retooled ‘OO’ gauge Mk.1 coaches with a brand new tooling for the Diagram 24 Restaurant-Buffet car (RB) and the Diagram 33 refurbished version (RBR). It models the vehicles in both original form, finished in BR maroon and Southern Region green, together with the RBR refurbished coaches. They remained in frontline service well into the 1990s, including Cross-Country workings.
Class 92 revolution
Despite its complex shape and high detail ratio compared to other modern six-axle locomotives, Revolution Trains chose the Class 92 to be its first 'N' gauge locomotive model.
Bottling it!
A dig into the Rail Express archive has revealed some rarely-seen photographs of the former rail-connected Express Dairy bottling plant in South West London, which today is the site of a large mosque.
1990s ‘N' gauge Class 950
Work on the ‘N’ gauge Class 950 Track Recording Unit project, a conversion based on a standard Graham Farish Class 150/1 model, is concluded by finishing the model in 1990s condition.