Mixed Variety at Newport (South Wales) - Monday 20th March, 2023

Today saw a very busy day of filming trains at Newport (South Wales), on Monday 20th March, 2023.

To start off the day, Rail Operations Group 37884 'Cepheus' is seen passing through Pontypool & New Inn on a scrap move of redundant Class 508 EMUs heading from Birkenhead North E.M.U.D to Newport Docks (Simsgroup). We would later pass the scrap move looped at Panteg as we went down to Newport (South Wales) on a crowded TFW Class 150 unit.

Note the new frames being constructed on Pontypool station; these are for the disabled access lifts for the footbridge construction upgrade.

Upon arrival, we spent most of the day filming various freights and passenger services at Newport (South Wales), including the Class 37 dragging the scrap move playing catch up, DBC 67015 on the One Wales Express, GWR Castle Class HST sets and Hitachi bullet train sets running busily, the surprise appearance of a TFW Flirt unit on a test run to Gloucester, and the Tesco Express hauled by DRS 66108 in what looked to be freshly painted livery.

During the day, passenger trains were sent into Platforms 1 and 2 owing to faulty points causing problems, and several services were delayed owing to trespassers causing trouble somewhere on the mainline.

Overall, we enjoyed the day despite the rain trying to dampen it.

Filmed by
Thomas Coombes
Scott Coombes

Produced by
Thomas Coombes

(C) 2023 Marches Productions