'Swallow' Swoops In To Celebrate 225 Day

Throughout the years, these stalwarts of the East Coast, originally working alongside the famous Intercity 125 High Speed Train (HST), have carried generations of customers. They have clocked up many millions of miles, transporting people across the country for day trips, holidays, meetings, sporting events, and so much more.

In a day of celebrations, LNER has given a very special name – ‘Swallow’ – to one of its Class 91 locomotives, 91106. The name is a nod to the historic rebrand of the former railway company, Intercity, which used the bird as a representation of grace and speed, evocatively describing its services of the time.

Special guests from across the rail industry were invited to join the 12:45 Leeds to London King’s Cross service, where all customers could enjoy an onboard museum, curated by railway historian and TV presenter, Tim Dunn.

Among the day’s special guests was Paul Varley, an LNER Onboard Customer Experience Host based in Leeds. Paul is one of the longest serving colleagues at LNER, having joined in 1979, and has worked onboard the IC225s since their introduction, delivering silver service and much more.

Speaking of his memories, Paul Varley said: “These trains are so special to me, I feel like I was born on them. Together, we have shared a lifetime, and I have so many memories from being onboard them. One of my fondest recollections was regularly welcoming Sir Fred Trueman who used to travel all the time with us in our restaurant cars.

“I was here when these trains were introduced, and it was great being trained up on them. We knew they were brilliant trains from the moment they were brought in. They are magnificent. A pleasure to work on.”

Jon Starkey, Head of Engineering and Fleet Assurance at LNER, whose team has helped maintain the fleet over many years of service, said: “Today has been a very special day. Our InterCity 225 fleet has served East Coast Main Line customers for close to 40 years, continuing to this day as they carry thousands of customers each week – that is some feat.

“As they enter their twilight years, it has been fitting to celebrate the whole fleet and the unparalleled service that they have given to millions of customers on the East Coast.”

Tim Dunn, railway historian and TV presenter, said: “It has been a fantastic day, celebrating a train that is such a striking part of the railway. It cuts a line through the landscape, as it has done for almost 40 years.

“These trains are such clever trains. They were hand-built and hand-designed, one of the last trains to be so. This train is so clever that it can go at top speed, 125mph, backwards!”

Commemorative pin badges were given away alongside other free merchandise on all InterCity 225 services, with a limited-edition A3 print available in exchange for a donation to LNER charity partner, CALM.