Hull Executive Explained

Hull Executive
Type:Passenger train
Predecessor:The Hull Pullman
First:8 May 1978
Last:31 March 2015
Formeroperator:East Coast
National Express East Coast
GNER
InterCity
British Rail
Start:London King's Cross
End:Hull
Frequency:Daily
Line Used:East Coast
Selby
Stock:InterCity 125
Speed:125 mph

The Hull Executive was a named English passenger train operated by East Coast and its predecessors. It ran daily in each direction between London King's Cross and Hull via the East Coast and Selby Lines. It was operated by diesel-powered InterCity 125 High Speed Trains.

History

The service was introduced on 8 May 1978 by British Rail, replacing the previous The Hull Pullman. At first the service was operated by Class 55 Deltic locomotives hauling Mark 2 carriages. These were replaced by High Speed Trains in January 1981, by which time the Hull Executive was Hull's only through train to London.[1] [2]

The name was used for a morning service to London returning in the evening. It called at Brough and Selby as well as certain stations on the East Coast Main Line from Doncaster southwards. Prior to 2000, it was routed via Goole instead of Selby.[3]

In September 2001, Hull Trains began operating services on the same route and today operates seven return services.[4] [5]

The name was still being shown in East Coast timetables up until its cessation in March 2015, but was quietly dropped by Virgin Trains East Coast when it took over the InterCity East Coast franchise in April 2015.[6] [7] The service now runs without a name and is operated by London North Eastern Railway.

Notes and References

  1. "In brief" Railway Gazette International January 1981 page 24
  2. "The Titled Trains of Britain" The Railway Magazine issue 1327 November 2011 page 37
  3. "GNER to revive Selby-London service" The Railway Magazine issue 1187 March 2000 page 12
  4. "New link launched from Hull to London" Rail issue 392 20 September 2000 page 14
  5. http://www.hulltrains.co.uk/travel-information/our-timetables/?gclid=CMiTrraO2M4CFQoTGwodSosI2A Our Timetables
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20150119124219/http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/globalassets/downloads/pdf/timetables/east-coast-14-dec-to-10-may-2015.pdf Timetable 14 December 2014
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20160413032634/https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/globalassets/downloads/pdf/timetables/vtec-timetable-booklet-2015-2016.pdf Timetable 1 April 2015