9th August 1976 - 50 years of production HSTs in passenger service.

[Commoner]

I guess there are many milestones in the history of the HST but today seems a particularly significant one. Whilst there will be much focus on 4th October in a couple of months, today marks 50 years since production HSTs first started carrying fare paying passengers. On 9th August 1976 two diagrams on the Paddington-Bristol/Weston-S-M route were converted to HST working, albeit operating in existing 100mph timings. On the first day, 253 003, formed 43007/6, 41007/8, 40003, 42009/33/34/35 worked diagram 1 - 08.02 WSM-Padd>11.45 Padd-BTM>15.30 BTM-Padd>18.12 Padd-Ttn>21.50 Ttn-WSM.22.34 WSM-BTM whilst 253 001, formed 43003/2, 41003/4, 40001, 42029/03/04/05 worked diagram 2 - 09.30 BTM-Padd>12.15 Padd-BTM>15.15 BTM-Padd>17.33 Padd-BTM. Hard to believe that as I write this, 50 years ago the sets above were making their first of many million miles in service. Wondered, did anyone travel on these early workings? Indeed was anyone on the first one?

 

[StephenHunter]

The 125 Group are doing a railtour on 3 October from London to Swansea and back, with a passenger-carrying one-way move from St Pancras to Manchester the following day on the Project Rio route.

125 Group railtour tickets

Saturday 3 October 2026

3
Oct
The Journey Shrinker
Paddington Swansea Paddington Departs 09:00

Sunday 4 October 2026

4
Oct
Rio Revival
St Pancras Manchester Piccadilly Departs 12:00

 

[norbitonflyer]

Wondered, did anyone travel on these early workings? Indeed was anyone on the first one?

Not quite, but on 11th August I was returning from a coach tour of Europe with several drop off points in England, one of which was Paddington, where we all admired the HST that some of the party were to catch (probably the 12:15 departure). I hadn't realised at the time that this was only the third day in revenue service, although I had seen the prototype in service the previous November when I visited London for a university interview.

As I got the university place, I moved to London two months later. One of the first things I did was to ride out to Reading on an HST

 

[StoneRoad]

I recall seeing the prototype HST at Chippenham several times - once, to my sibling's intense annoyance - I managed to grab a quick cab visit before it went back to Swindon.

 

[The exile]

Took me until October 1978 - which means managing a 50th anniversary (service train) trip is going to be a bit touch and go, I imagine.

 

[158747]

My first ride in a HST was 43010 / 43012 Swindon - Chippenham 17 August 1976, hard to believe that was 50 years ago!

 

[Big Jumby 74]

A personal snap shot of units noted at Old Oak Common prior to passenger service;

30/5/76: 252.001.

2/6/76: 253.003, 004 and 005.

11/7/76: 253.002, 004, 008 and 252.001.

25/7/76: 253.004, 006, 007, 008 and 252.001.

6/8/76: 253.004, 006, 008 and 009.

 

[ac6000cw]

The 125 Group are doing a railtour on 3 October from London to Swansea and back, with a passenger-carrying one-way move from St Pancras to Manchester the following day on the Project Rio route.

125 Group railtour tickets

Thanks for the info - booked a ride on the 'Rio Revival'

(Having travelled on one of the 'Project Rio' trains back in the day, it's a bit of nostalgia, a nice ride and - assuming it follows the original route - traverses the south curve at Dore too)

 

[Masbroughlad]

My Grandad took me to watch them on their first day on the ECML. We went to Scrooby Crossing, near Bawtry. In those days, you could also go in Bawtry woods to watch no trackside fencing! (1977?)

BR Sheffield Division used to plan some great days out - one offs, and then TRAILBLAZERS.

My dad took me and my brother on one. Rotherham to Bristol TM (loco-hauled), Bristol TM to Paddington (IC125) and St. Pancras back to Sheffield/Rotherham (Peak most likely then a DMU). Very exciting as a 7 year old! (Would be now, as a 'ahem' year old!). The smell of burger and chips cooked on board the HST - can almost smell it now! And my Dad's Maxpax 'coffee'.

Trailblazers were great, days out or circular trips. My point to this thread. One claimed to be their longest circular ticket by IC125. Rotherham - Sheffield - Plymouth - Paddington - King's Cross - Doncaster - Rotherham. All in one day! Happy times!

Unfortunately can't make the above excursion - hope there will be more!

 

[Commoner]

Today marks the 50th anniversary of HSTs in passenger service on the South Wales route. From Monday 13th September 1976, 2 diagrams - 10.00 Paddington-Swansea>14.55 Swansea-Paddington>19.10 Paddington-Swansea and 07.05 Swansea-Paddington>12.00 Paddington-Swansea>17.20 Swansea became HST operated. These ran to existing schedules, with corresponding workings on Saturday and Sundays. On the first day, 253 008 formed 43017/16, 41017/29, 40008, 42038/24/32/26 worked the 10.00 Paddington diagram, while 253 002 formed 43005/4, 41005/6, 40007, 42042/06/07/08 worked the 07.05 Swansea diagram.

 

[EveningStar]

Thread prompted me to dig out my old notes. My first ride on an HST was Saturday 25 September 1976, with 253003 from Reading to Didcot. Remember first impression was how it was so different, so modern, compared with everything that came before, which probably indicates how transformational a train it was destined to be.

Early idea of permanent set numbers was a pain in retrospect, as for example my notes include '253007' heading one way at Reading shortly followed by '253007' heading the other way! Was a Modern Railway editorial at the time suggesting paired royal namings of the power cars, such as Victoria and Albert, with Henry VIII as the spare power car. However, how the Western Region were swapping power cars to keep things running, would have been some strange pairings.

Notes at Reading on the day also included D1068, D1036, D1013 and D1056, so the old order was still represented.

 

[mike57]

Remember first impression was how it was so different, so modern, compared with everything that came before, which probably indicates how transformational a train it was destined to be.

As a regular ECML user I didnt travel on HSTs until I think late 1978, and agree that were transformational. Yorkshire - London journey times came down by typically 20 mins. That they are only just finally disappearing off front line services after 50 years is proof that the design, once teething troubles were ironed out was good. Did they rescue the railways in the UK, yes to a point, as journey time improvements and improved comfort came at a time when the motorway network was starting to get congested in places. I still think that a Mk3 gives the best ride quality that I have experienced on the ECML, and with current rolling stock (80x) we seem to have regressed in terms of ride quality and comfort.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Remember first impression was how it was so different, so modern, compared with everything that came before, which probably indicates how transformational a train it was destined to be.

Completely agree.

Early idea of permanent set numbers was a pain in retrospect, as for example my notes include '253007' heading one way at Reading shortly followed by '253007' heading the other way

Have been in touch with 'Commoner' privately, and his records have been an eye opener to me as to just how mismatched formations were in the early years on WR. Whether things improved once the 254's started to appear on ECML? But even some of these were active on WR in 1977, both PC's and trailers, which I can bare witness to. A spotters nightmare!

I would engage with 'Commoner' if you feel likely to, as some of my notes have helped fill in some missing details for him, as have some of his records helped to identify some questions I have had about my trips out involving HST's in those early couple of years.

As a regular ECML user I didnt travel on HSTs until I think late 1978, and agree that were transformational. Yorkshire - London journey times came down by typically 20 mins

My use of HST's by late 70's/80's onwards was largely ECML, and yes, they were so much better than what had gone before, one reason perhaps that I (for one) came to take them for granted as a quick and comfortable way to get to Yorkshire and beyond for what had become my main railway interests by then (non BR), for which I needed maximum time on the ground.

Nothing has ever surpassed them for me, from a passenger perspective, not even the ECML Mk4's. Seemed claustrophobic by comparrison!

 

[mike57]

Nothing has ever surpassed them for me, from a passenger perspective, not even the ECML Mk4's. Seemed claustrophobic by comparrison!

I was a regular traveller between Yorkshire and London from the late 70s until the mid 80s as I was working in London Monday - Thursday for long periods. Mk 3 ride quality was better than anything that has followed, Mk 4s can be lively, and 80x are to be honest awful. I think Mk4s were designed with a profile that would have allowed retrofit of limited tilt. We seem to have unlearned things that we got right with the Mk3s. I can understand a design progressing as technology and requirements change, but rolling stock on the ECML has definitely regressed from Mk3 days. Taking the current 80x's in standard class the seats are little better than bus seats, cramped and uncomfortable, and the ride quality is terrible.