Iconic train stops off at Dunbar for the final time

LNER bid a fond farewell to the iconic InterCity 125 High-Speed Train (HST) as it embarked on a special tour for its last journey on the East Coast route.

Having broken speed records and transformed rail travel since they were first introduced in the 1970s, LNER marked the retirement of the InterCity 125 with a four-day farewell tour.

To make the final trip extra special for those onboard and people keen to see the train, both power cars and carriages were painted in the original British Rail InterCity 125 livery.

Ahead of the train stopping off at Dunbar Railway Station on December 20, on the third day of the tour, David Horne, managing director of LNER, said: “After four decades of service, it’s brilliant to be recognising the contribution of the InterCity 125 trains with one last trip along the East Coast.

“These trains had a huge impact when they were first introduced, no more so than in Scotland, where it reduced journey times between Edinburgh and London King’s Cross by up to an hour.

“Launching our farewell tour at Edinburgh is therefore a perfect way to begin our goodbye to these iconic machines.

“With the full train in its original livery, the tour gives people along the route a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the train in all its glory as it travels by world-famous landmarks and landscapes.”

The tour culminated with the final journey from Leeds to London King’s Cross on Saturday, December 21.

Nicknamed ‘The Journey Shrinker’ for the reduction in journey times it brought about, the very first high-speed train made its public debut in October 1976.

In 1978, they were officially introduced onto the East Coast route.

Money raised from the tour will go towards LNER partner charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

The charity works to prevent male suicide and has already benefitted from more than £100,000 in donations from LNER customers donating ‘Delay Repay’ claims to help support the campaign.