Restoration work starts on £1 train once ridden by royalty
Work has started to restore a train bought by enthusiasts for just £1.The Class 507 Electric Multiple Unit, which spent its life on the Merseyrail network, carrying passengers from Liverpool to destinations including Southport, Chester and Ellesmere Port, was one of the oldest trains on the UK network when it was withdrawn from passenger service in November 2024.Back in 1978 it carried Queen Elizabeth II when she officially opened the Merseyrail network.The three-carriage train is now being restored by apprentices at Alstom in Derby ahead of its transfer to the Tanat Valley Light Railway in Shropshire.
The train was designed in Derby in the 1970s and built by British Rail at its workshop in York.During its life it covered more than three million miles and in May it was purchased a group of rail enthusiasts, led by Robert Hampton, chairman of the Class 507 Preservation Society.Mr Hampton said he had travelled on the train and its classmates thousands of times and they were a key part of his childhood."It's really gratifying to see it here in Derby," he said."There were moments during the process when I feared that we wouldn't be able to get it done and get it preserved.It's wonderful to see it here, being looked after by the team at Alstom".
Tom Camps from Alstom will show apprentices how the train works and how it differs from the more modern trains they are accustomed to."I hope to give them a broader range of experience," he said."This is a dirty vehicle which has seen a lot of wear whereas at the moment the apprentices are working on brand new vehicles which are pristine".The apprentices will be joined by students at The University of Birmingham who will use the train for their research projects.Prof Stuart Hillmanson believes it can provide a vital insight."Seeing an old train up first hand gives them the chance to see how things work," he said."People had limited resources back when this was designed and when you have limited resources you have to be really innovative about how you design technology."The Class 507 will remain in Derby until later in the summer and go on show as part of The Greatest Gathering exhibition in August.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business News Wales
3 days ago
- Business News Wales
Barry Rail Depot Restored in Transport Upgrade
Passenger train drivers are once again based in Barry for the first time since the 1990s after work was completed on the depot there. The move sees the number of people working at the depot rise to 58. Transport for Wales took over the rail depot there in 2022 and have been proceeding to develop it alongside partners in Network Rail. From the May timetable change on 18 May, 39 drivers will now be based there alongside depot colleagues, cleaners and train crew managers. Most of the Class 756 and Class 231 fleets will be stabled there to serve the lines between Rhymney and Barry Island, as well as the Treherbert, Merthyr and Aberdare lines (until the Class 398 fleet enter service). Heavy maintenance and fuelling will continue to take place at Canton Depot in Cardiff. Depot Manager Alun Davies said: 'This is transformational for people and the area and is testament to the hard work of so many to make it happen. 'It's incredible to have the drivers coming back here. 'When we took the depot on it required a major clean up operation. We took a really joined up approach to it, putting safety and sustainability at the forefront, as well as looking ahead and planning for the future.' As part of the work a safe walking route has been installed between Barry town railway station and the depot. A sustainable well-being garden has also been created for staff and visitors, which also helps to support biodiversity around the depot. Barry depot had been built in the 1890s as part of the developments of the docks and railway. However it closed as a driver depot in the 1980s as British Rail looked to reorganise ahead of privatisation in the early 1990s. EWS had drivers based there until 1999. Prior to TFW takeover, John Buxton, Director of Cambrian Transport, operated out of the site since 2009. The depot, garden and crossing were officially opened to drivers at a special event where MS Jane Hutt, Vale of Glamorgan Council Leader Lis Burnett and several other key local stakeholders were given a tour of the depot.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Railway launches 36 new trains on East of England commuter line
The first rollout of 36 new trains on a commuter line will make a "massive difference" to travellers, a rail operator has said. London Northwestern Railway said the first of its new Class 730/2 fleet will begin running from Monday on the West Cost Mainline, into Euston Station, London, stopping at Northampton, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, and Watford stations. The trains are part of £1bn of investment on the line, the company said. Ian McConnell, its managing director, said the new trains will add 15,000 extra seats every day and increase capacity by 20%. Mr McConnell said the trains would be "more reliable". "These trains are going to make a massive difference. There's going to be 15,000 (extra) seats every single day, that's 20% additional capacity."They're going to have a much more comfortable, modern, state-of-the-art experience, much more space and much more chance of getting a seat and a much better experience all together." Phil Warner, the chair of the Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users Association, welcomed the increased capacity. "Train were shorter than they should be and could get over crowded, more seats and more space to sit down, means less standing and less crowding. "They'll carry more people which is what rail needs to do to take pressure off the road network." The new trains were built in the UK by Alstom, and feature air conditioning, power points at every seat and improved accessibility, the company added. More trains will come into service from 23 June as more drivers and conductors are trained. Other destinations on the line, including Hemel Hempstead, Leighton Buzzard, Berkhamsted and Kings Langley will have new trains from the end of the year or beginning of 2026. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X and Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Time Out
3 days ago
- Time Out
The 15 food capitals of the world right now, revealed
What are the culinary capitals of the world? We have some ideas: our annual list of the world's best cities for food is based on a survey of 18,500 locals, who all shared their take on the quality and affordability of their city's dining scene. While we think locals know best, Japanese rail ticket provider JR Pass has carried out some pretty comprehensive research to unveil its own ranking of the world's best food cities – it wouldn't hurt to look, would it? The study evaluated everything from the number of five-star restaurants, Michelin-guide spots, food-based attractions and national dishes to the Global Food Security Index and the average meal price for two, crowning (drum roll, please) Paris as the foodie champion. No, we aren't shocked either. The French capital has more Michelin-guide and five-star rated restaurants than any other city on the ranking, proudly serves a whopping 12 national dishes and averages a fairly reasonable £58.85 for a two-person meal. Want to know our favourite food spots in the French capital? Time Out Paris has roundups of the best cheap eats, veggie spots, bistros, romantic spaces, brunch stops and top restaurants overall – tuck in. In second place was Athens, and in third place was Tokyo, but the likes of Ljubljana, Seoul and Reykjavik also made this ranking. Read on for the top 15. These are the world's 15 top foodie capitals, according to JR Pass Paris Athens Tokyo Zurich Amsterdam Prague Brussels Dublin Madrid Ljubljana London Seoul Copenhagen Reykjavik Riga Fill your boots with more food news Whether it's news of a new Aperol spritz index or snaps from the World Food Photography Awards, a shiny new list of the best pizzerias, or the best restaurants on the planet overall, we can bet Time Out's travel news page will keep you satisfied. Check out our roundup of the best cities in the world for food in 2025. Did you see that this popular travel destination will soon ban smoking in most public places? Plus: .
