Great Western Railway’s shortened HSTs for regional services in the West of England are now operating services to Worcester.
One of the four-coach sets, which only have standard class coaches, worked the 14.39 from Bristol Temple Meads to Worcester Shrub Hill and the 18.40 return service on Sunday, August 4. This is expected to be a regular working for a mini-HST until the GWR timetable change takes place in mid-Decemeber
The train on August 4 was formed of power cars 43181 and 43086 and a set of slam-door MK3 coaches in blue First Great Western livery, seen in the picture taken by Steve Widdowson between Norton Junction and Worcester.
The slam-door coaches will be phased out once GWR receives 11 sets of life-extended coaches, fitted with sliding power doors and tanks to retain toilet waste. Six of the sets of coaches have been delivered so far, with the rest expected to be in service by the end of the year.
The main use of the mini-HSTs will be on services between Bristol, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, with future operations to Worcester expected to remain limited.