Highland Chieftain
 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger train |
| Predecessor | The Clansman |
| First service | May 1984 |
| Current operator(s) | London North Eastern Railway |
| Former operator(s) | Virgin Trains East Coast East Coast National Express East Coast GNER InterCity East Coast |
| Route | |
| Termini | London King's Cross Inverness |
| Distance travelled | 581 miles |
| Average journey time | 8 hours |
| Service frequency | Daily |
| Train number(s) | 1W16 (northbound) 1E13 (southbound) |
| Line(s) used | East Coast Highland |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | Class 800 Azuma |
| Operating speed | 125 mph |
The Highland Chieftain is a named British passenger train operated by London North Eastern Railway. It operates daily in each direction between London King's Cross and Inverness via the East Coast and Highland Main Line. It is one of the longest train journeys in the United Kingdom at 581 miles with a journey time of eight hours.
History
[edit]Historically, the principal train service between London and the Scottish Highlands was The Clansman, which ran via the West Coast Main Line.
The Highland Chieftain was introduced with the May 1984 timetable on the East Coast Main Line and was intended to replace The Clansman; the running time then was 8 hours 40 minutes southbound and 8 hours 50 minutes northbound.[1][2] Today, it has a journey time of eight hours.[3] Originally operated by InterCity 125 sets, the service has been operated by Class 800 Azumas since December 2019.[4]
Electric locomotive 87023, which operated on the West Coast Main Line, was named Highland Chieftain between 1978 and 1984, but never had an association with the passenger service.[5] LNER High Speed Train power car 43308, which has operated the service, was later named Highland Chieftain. The nameplate was auctioned by London North Eastern Railway in 2020.[6]
Operation
[edit]Presently both of the services are operated by a Class 800 Azuma. This is a bi-modal train due to the line being diesel only beyond Haymarket, with the train being on electric power to and from the latter.
| Family | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||
| Hitachi AT300 | Class 800 Azuma | 
|
Bi-mode multiple unit | 125 | 200 |
Until December 2019, the Highland Chieftain service was operated by an InterCity 125 HST for a number of years until the whole fleet of HSTs were replaced by the Azuma fleet.
| Trainset | Class | Image | Type | Top speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mph | km/h | ||||
| InterCity 125 | Class 43 | 
|
Locomotive | 125 | 200 |
| Mark 3 | 
|
Passenger coach | |||
References
[edit]- ^ Vallance, H. A. (1985) [1938]. The Highland Railway (4th ed.). Newton Abbot: David St. John Thomas. p. 168. ISBN 0-946537-24-0.
- ^ "The Titled Trains of Britain". The Railway Magazine. No. 1327. November 2011. p. 37.
- ^ Timetable 15 May 2016 Virgin Trains East Coast
- ^ "Azumas take over LNER's High Speed Train operation". Rail Magazine. No. 894. 18 December 2019. p. 12.
- ^ 87023 AC Locomotive Group
- ^ Holden, Michael (17 November 2020). "LNER HST nameplates raise £41,000 for CALM charity as "record prices" are paid". RailAdvent. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
External links
[edit]- National Rail Enquiries website - main web portal for UK train fares, times and other travel information
- Sweeney, Val (27 March 2012). "Highland Chieftain train service saved". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 12 July 2013.