Brighton Belle On Test - 2025 onwards

[Rail_Sussex]

They share Southall with WCR so only a short distance tow to a 3rd rail line ?

Oh yes thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Aug 2026 ==

There’s a path in for tomorrow - 5Z20 Crewe HS to Derby LL wonder if it’s the set heading for testing?

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[fgwrich]

Correct, it’s the Belle with 20107 & 20118 for company.

Not my videos.

 

[WesternLancer]

Correct, it’s the Belle with 20107 & 20118 for company.

Not my videos.

Now that is nice to see!
Hopefully another step closer to operational service

 

[Forty29]

I see a private charter on 3/4 September running for LSL hauled by a pair of twenties. On Real-time trains says running as a 4- car anything to do with the Brighton Belle?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2026 ==

I just missed it going through Bicester village on it's way from Crewe to Reading Train are depot.

 

[Chris125]

I see a private charter on 3/4 September running for LSL hauled by a pair of twenties. On Real-time trains says running as a 4- car anything to do with the Brighton Belle?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2026 ==

I just missed it going through Bicester village on it's way from Crewe to Reading Train are depot.

Mk1s/2s, very unlikely to be the Belle until it has central door locking fitted.

 

[50002Superb]

I see a private charter on 3/4 September running for LSL hauled by a pair of twenties. On Real-time trains says running as a 4- car anything to do with the Brighton Belle?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2026 ==

I just missed it going through Bicester village on it's way from Crewe to Reading Train are depot.

Details on the urgent TOPS thread.

 

[Invincible]

Mk1s/2s, very unlikely to be the Belle until it has central door locking fitted.

From Facebook, after the succesful 3rd rail test at Derby (there does not seem to be any video of this?), the Brighton Belle unit is back at Crewe for a few weeks, so presume central door locking fitting as well as a few other things are now being done, so back to Derby, and then it might need more 3rd rail testing on the mainline.
The class 701 units when very new, were initally tested on mainline 3rd rail overnight at Wareham with the help of Swanage railway.