Cross-Country retires Class 43 HSTs

Cross-country have retired all of their Class 43 HST units, which ran long-distance services like Plymouth to Edinburgh, Plymouth to Leeds and Plymouth to Glasgow Central. These trains entered service in 19 and have been popular across many TOCs since privatisation came into force when British Rail dissolved in 1994. Slowly, aging trains and high emmisions have lead to these legendary trains sad demise. The Class 43s are now only operated by ScotRail (who call theirs “Inter7City” trains and Great Western Railway (Who dub their HST’s their “Castle” sets). To look into the future, Cross-Country plan to replace the Class 43’s with some Class 220 “Voyagers”and Class 221 “Super Voyagers”. These trains are newer, but by no means fresh to Cross-Country, who are set to recieve some more class 221 “Super Voyagers” from Avanti, who will no longer need them after their new Class 805s enter service in 2024.