Being the first company to restart its charter programme after the enforced COVID-19 mass cancellations is quite an accolade. Saphos Trains, part of LSL in Crewe, will be running that first charter tomorrow (15.07.20) going up and over the S&C to Carlisle with 70000 'Britannia' doing the honours. In preparation for this important and significant event, Saphos ran a test train of the stock from Crewe to London and back running as 5Z90. It is being led by its recently repainted 87002 'Royal Sovereign' looking superb in its InterCity Swallow livery. 90002 'Wolf of Badenoch' is at the rear with some high-quality stock sandwiched in between. The smart train is seen passing Victoria bridge just south of Roade in Northamptonshire. Saphos is a relative newcomer to the potentially lucrative charter market. With locomotives and stock looking like this I suspect that it will do well!
|