The East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is delighted to announce a new partnership with the 125 group – custodians of one of Britain’s most iconic trains, the InterCity 125 High Speed Train (HST) set.

Under the agreement, the 125 Group’s preserved HST vehicles will be based at the East Lancashire Railway, where they will form an exciting new addition to the line’s operational and visitor experience. The HST set will make its inaugural appearance under this new agreement at the ELR’s Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) Gala on the 8th & 9th November 2025, giving enthusiasts and families alike the chance to experience this remarkable piece of modern railway heritage up close.

ELR Chairman Mike Kelly welcomed the new collaboration, commenting:

“We’re absolutely thrilled and honoured to be working with the 125 Group to bring the InterCity 125 to the East Lancashire Railway. Each generation lives through their era of railway history and now a new generation can, through this unique partnership, enjoy seeing and riding behind the iconic InterCity 125.

As a charity and guardians, the preserved railway the partnership has the potential to deliver wide-ranging benefits for both organisations while ensuring that this vital piece of Britain’s railway history is preserved and enjoyed by future generations.”

125 Group Trustee Alex Wood commented:

“With a train as large and iconic as ours, working in collaboration with preservation partners is essential to ensure we can keep, maintain and operate both at preservation sites and with access to the mainline. Partnering with the ELR gives us the best of all worlds and will allow us to celebrate 50 years of HSTs in fine style. We are looking forward to staging a wide range of events to celebrate and demonstrate our historic railway masterpiece,

The 125 Group has long been dedicated to maintaining and operating examples of the world-famous HST, a design that revolutionised rail travel in the UK during the 1970s and remains one of the most recognisable trains ever built.”

With 2026 marking the 50th anniversary of the InterCity 125, this new collaboration between the ELR and 125 Group provides a fitting platform to celebrate half a century of high-speed excellence – and the enduring legacy of British engineering innovation.

Further details about public running dates and special events will be released in due course via the ELR and 125 Group websites and social media channels.

Download a copy of this Press Release.

ENDS

Media Contact:
Lee Kenny – General Manager, East Lancashire Railway
📧 lee.kenny@eastlancsrailway.co.uk | ☎ 07587 774668

Notes to Editors:

  • The East Lancashire Railway is a 12-mile heritage railway running between Heywood and Rawtenstall in Lancashire, operated by volunteers and staff to preserve and celebrate the region’s rich railway history.
  • The 125 Group is dedicated to preserving, maintaining and operating the InterCity 125 High Speed Train, a class of trains introduced by British Rail in 1976 that transformed long-distance travel across the UK.