Eastern Rail Services is looking to prepare two full charter train rakes of coaches, after identifying a gap in the market caused by the sale of Riviera Trains coaches to West Coast Railways.
ERS’s James Steward told RAIL: “Our first charter set is going through the approvals processes with freight operating companies,” adding that the company now has “two charter sets being prepared”.
ERS has been providing coaches to various operators for non-passenger use, such as for Network Rail test trains and the Class 93 testing programme. It also has a Mk 3 kitchen car which will enable it to offer Premier Dining to customers.
It recently bolstered its fleet by buying surplus vehicles from Vintage Trains.
On November 23, 37510 Orion delivered Driving Van Trailer 82306 and Mk 2 coaches 1201/03, 3309/51, 3416 and 5928 to Great Yarmouth as the 1206 Tyseley- Burton Wetmore Sidings and the 1359 Burton Wetmore Sidings- Yarmouth CHS.
1203 was formerly owned by Locomotive Services Limited and is fitted with Controlled Emission Toilets and a modified kitchen.
Of these coaches, Steward added: “Two are in reasonably good condition and one will be used for spare parts. These Tyseley coaches give us a potential eight First Open coaches.”
Eatern Rail Service has also acquired seven ex-Direct Rail Services Mk 2 coaches used for the Cumbrian Coast and Greater Anglia duties in 2015-19, as well as owning several ex-Greater Anglia Mk 3s.
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