125 GROUP TOURS - 2026

[Derbyshire Gra]

125 Group has announced its first two main line tours for 2026 - the 50th Anniversary of the HST. Preliminary details on the website but bookings not yet open - further announcement will be made when they are:

125 Group

www.125group.org.uk

Friday May 1st - Manchester to Reading one-way trip
Saturday May 2nd - Euston - Llandudno and Holyhead.

 

[31160]

125 Group has announced its first two main line tours for 2026 - the 50th Anniversary of the HST. Preliminary details on the website but bookings not yet open - further announcement will be made when they are:

125 Group

www.125group.org.uk

Friday May 1st - Manchester to Reading one-way trip
Saturday May 2nd - Euston - Llandudno and Holyhead.

Hopefully there can be a set down at Crewe on the return, but for the price these are a proper bargain, can't book on them yet but I'm going to give it consideration when you can

 

[318266]

The one way trip seems good if you want to tick off some normally freight only track.

 

[31160]

It doesn't say when or even how to book it just says "soon"

 

[Isle of Mull]

It doesn't say when or even how to book it just says "soon"

You book on the website

 

[31160]

Now available to book via the bls site

 

[s491]

First class almost full now on the main tour. Still plenty in standard class. Please do consider supporting 125 Group for this event - fuel prices making life even more challenging!

 

[s491]

Just bumping this. We have pay on the day tickets available for both Friday and Saturday. Just come to coach C on the train and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

 

[31160]

Yep booked on this weekends tours, presently surprised the tour is routed through the through platforms at Piccadilly Friday morning, looking forward to it

 

[Welshguy1048]

Filmed at Prestatyn, North Wales

02/05/26 - Class 43 HST - 43025 T&T 43159 - Llandudno to London Euston - The Welsh Dragon Railtour

 

[jayah]

Filmed at Prestatyn, North Wales

02/05/26 - Class 43 HST - 43025 T&T 43159 - Llandudno to London Euston - The Welsh Dragon Railtour

As Avanti were running shuttles west from Crewe, the charter was the only service running between North Wales and London?

 

[DiddyKongRacin]

Reviving this thread to note the new Railtour celebrating the 505th anniversary of InterCity 125s - running from Paddington > Swansea (Box Tunnel outbound, return journey via Chipping Sorton). There is also a positioning move back from St. Pancras to Bury Bolton Street

HIGH SPEED TRAIN (INTER-CITY 125) 50TH ANNIVERSARY PUBLIC RAILTOUR – 125 Group

www.125group.org.uk

(Edited for a typo but retained for humours sake)

 

[jaybeegee]

505th ? I know I'm old but I didn't think I was that old. Sounds good though.

 

[DiddyKongRacin]

505th ? I know I'm old but I didn't think I was that old. Sounds good though.

Doh! I'm keeping it the typo. Might be a London trip for me

 

[47286Dan]

This mornings tour

43025 ICHP MANCR VIC 311Z431625 U * CARLISLE N
43159 ICHP MANCR VIC 311Z431625 U * CARLISLE N
Coaches
44000, 42111, 42120, 42119, 40730, 41057, 41067

Dan

 

[Mollman]

This mornings tour

43025 ICHP MANCR VIC 311Z431625 U * CARLISLE N
43159 ICHP MANCR VIC 311Z431625 U * CARLISLE N
Coaches
44000, 42111, 42120, 42119, 40730, 41057, 41067

Dan

Seen at Preston on return journey

 

[Sun Chariot]

Seen at Preston on return journey

Splendid condition! Takes me back to my late teens and early 20s (I remember the WR 253 + ER 254 sets in blue-grey, too!)

 

[Iskra]

Reviving this thread to note the new Railtour celebrating the 505th anniversary of InterCity 125s - running from Paddington > Swansea (Box Tunnel outbound, return journey via Chipping Sorton). There is also a positioning move back from St. Pancras to Bury Bolton Street

HIGH SPEED TRAIN (INTER-CITY 125) 50TH ANNIVERSARY PUBLIC RAILTOUR – 125 Group

www.125group.org.uk

(Edited for a typo but retained for humours sake)

The positioning move could work well for me as I’m in London that day anyway, I just need an idea of times really.

A couple of stills from yesterday:

 

[Techniquest]

Even I am tempted by that opportunity to travel to Bristol and Swansea by HST again, pending the logistics of getting to/from it. Something for me to ponder over the next few weeks. I’m not overly bothered by the trip to Manchester, less nostalgia involved there, although it’s also a bit easier to get into position for without needing annual leave requests.

Very much subject to the price too, of course!

 

[neil65]

I had a day out on Saturday at York & Scarborough. At York there was 'The Citadel Circle' (125 Group ) hauled by 43159 Rio Warrior & 43025 Exeter

The Citadel Circle (125 Group) & The Yorvik Discovery (SRPS Railtours) York & Scarborough 25-7-26 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

The Citadel Circle (125 Group) & The Yorvik Discovery (SRPS Railtours) York & Scarborough 25-7-26 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

 

[Sun Chariot]

I had a day out on Saturday at York & Scarborough. At York there was 'The Citadel Express' (125 Group & Retro Railtours) hauled by 43159 Rio Warrior & 43025 Exeter

Super images, Neil; HST at York, takes me back to my teens! Your SmugSug gallery then leads straight into photographs of 50050 and 37025 - oh, I feel rather spoiled!

 

[43096]

I had a day out on Saturday at York & Scarborough. At York there was 'The Citadel Express' (125 Group & Retro Railtours) hauled by 43159 Rio Warrior & 43025 Exeter

The Citadel Circle (125 Group) & The Yorvik Discovery (SRPS Railtours) York & Scarborough 25-7-26 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

The Citadel Circle (125 Group) & The Yorvik Discovery (SRPS Railtours) York & Scarborough 25-7-26 - Railway-Photography

railway photographs from the last 100 years

railway-photography.smugmug.com

Neil

Nice photos; just two things:
1. The tour was “The Citadel Circle”
2. It was a 125 Group tour. Retro were providing the booking service, but were not taking any revenue risk for running the train.

 

[neil65]

Nice photos; just two things:
1. The tour was “The Citadel Circle”
2. It was a 125 Group tour. Retro were providing the booking service, but were not taking any revenue risk for running the train.

Thank you, i have changed the title, that will teach me to cut and paste from Railway Herald Railtours page

 

[BR Traction]

If we book on a 125 group railtour and travel 1st class and pay a supplement for a table for 2, will they 100 % guarantee this is what we will receive ? We are new customers to the railtour scene, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks everyone.

 

[43096]

If we book on a 125 group railtour and travel 1st class and pay a supplement for a table for 2, will they 100 % guarantee this is what we will receive ?

They are not selling more "table for 2" supplements than are available on the train, if that's what you mean. So if you buy first class with table for 2 supplement, then that's what you get - always subject to unexpected incidents/failures, as with any tour.

 

[BR Traction]

They are not selling more "table for 2" supplements than are available on the train, if that's what you mean. So if you buy first class with table for 2 supplement, then that's what you get - always subject to unexpected incidents/failures, as with any tour.

That is reassuring thank you. My wife needs the leg room after a knee operation so it was concerning if it was a mad dash for certain seats at the stations !

 

[matt]

If you book in advance you'll get an assigned seat.

 

[s491]

All being well, VP185 engined 43089 will be going for an airing by the seaside accompanied by 43025.

 

[802020]

ignore this sorry