HST sets that were introduced initially on the Western and Eastern Regions began replacing earlier Types 4 and 5 diesels on all principal non-electrified routes in the mid to late 1970's. Sets of eight Mk3 coaches with a class 43 diesel power car at each end operated on all non-electrified main lines - Great Western Main Line, Midland Main Line and Cross Country, as well as services out of Euston and Kings Cross where only part of the route was electrified. With the introduction of class 800 – 802 electric and bi-mode EMUs in 2018 and 2019, many are now being demoted to Great Western Railway and ScotRail secondary or middle distance services. Probably the most successful product of the diesel age, forecasts suggest they could be in service for another twenty years or more.
BRAND:
Virgin Trains, the first train operating company for both West Coast Main Line and Cross-Country on privatisation in 1997, initially used a livery of mainly red with some black for its fleet of locomotives and coaches, including its HST sets.